RIP Overview and Features

Routing Information Protocol (RIP) is one of the oldest distance-vector routing protocols. It uses hop count as its metric to determine the best path to a destination, with a maximum hop count of 15. Any destination beyond 15 hops is considered unreachable.

Key Features:

• Distance-Vector Protocol: RIP routers send their entire routing table to directly connected neighbors at regular intervals.
• Hop Count Metric: The number of routers a packet must traverse to reach its destination.
• Limited Scalability: Due to the 15-hop limit, RIP is not suitable for large networks.
• Periodic Updates: Routers send updates every 30 seconds by default.
• Slow Convergence: RIP's convergence is relatively slow compared to link-state protocols due to its periodic updates and reliance on timers.
• Loop Prevention Mechanisms: Includes features like split horizon, route poisoning, and hold-down timers to prevent routing loops.