Routing protocols are the underlying set of rules and regulations used to direct data traffic and define routes for the data packets. These protocols are essential for the efficient functioning of the network and are an integral part of the Cisco CCNA (Certified Network Associate) course. This article will discuss the various routing protocols included in the CCNA course.

RIP

Routing Information Protocol (RIP) is a distance-vector protocol used to find the shortest path between two nodes in a network. It sends periodic routing table updates to all its neighboring routers, which helps keep the entire network up to date. RIP is commonly used in small to medium-sized networks, as it is relatively easy to configure and manage.

EIGRP

Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) is a hybrid routing protocol developed by Cisco to make routing more efficient. It is a combination of both distance-vector and link-state protocols and uses the Diffused Update Algorithm (DUAL) to compute the shortest path between two nodes. It can scale up to a large number of routes and is generally used in large enterprise networks.

OSPF

Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is a link-state routing protocol designed to provide the best path between two nodes in a network. It uses the shortest-path-first algorithm to calculate the best path and can scale up to a large number of routes. OSPF is used in large enterprise networks and is more reliable than RIP and EIGRP.

BGP

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is a path-vector routing protocol used to exchange routing information between different autonomous systems. It is used to keep track of routes between different networks and is used in large enterprise networks to exchange routing information between different organizations.