An Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGP) is a type of routing protocol used within a single autonomous system (AS) in a computer network. Its primary function is to exchange routing information between routers within the same AS, allowing them to dynamically update and maintain routing tables. IGPs facilitate efficient communication and routing decisions based on metrics such as hop count, bandwidth, delay, and reliability. Examples of IGPs include OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), RIP (Routing Information Protocol), and EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol).
Integrated Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP) was a Cisco proprietary routing protocol developed in the 1980s and used primarily in older Cisco network equipment. It aimed to provide efficient and scalable routing within a network by calculating routes based on a composite metric that included bandwidth and delay. IGRP was later replaced by EIGRP, which offered more advanced features and improved scalability.
A Gateway Routing Protocol (GRP) is a broader term that encompasses any routing protocol used by routers to exchange routing information across different networks or autonomous systems. GRPs enable routers to determine optimal paths for forwarding data packets based on network topology and metrics. They play a crucial role in enabling communication between disparate networks and ensuring efficient data routing across complex network infrastructures.
Interior Border Gateway Protocol (IBGP) is a type of BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) used within an autonomous system (AS). Unlike Exterior BGP (EBGP), which is used between different ASes, IBGP is employed to exchange routing information between routers within the same AS. IBGP ensures that all routers within the AS have consistent and up-to-date routing information, facilitating optimal path selection and routing decisions within large-scale networks.
The primary purpose of an Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) is to facilitate efficient and reliable routing within a single autonomous system (AS). IGPs achieve this by dynamically exchanging routing information among routers within the AS, allowing them to build and maintain accurate routing tables. By automating the process of route discovery and propagation, IGPs enable routers to adapt to changes in network topology, optimize traffic paths, and ensure connectivity between devices within the same network domain. This enhances network performance, scalability, and fault tolerance, making IGPs essential components of modern computer networks.