Routing Technology

Routing

The process of selecting the best path for data packets to travel across one or more networks.

Routing Table

A file that contains a set of rules that shows information on what path a data packet should take to its definition.

Directly Connected Route

Shows the routes for networks which are directly connected to a router’s interface.

Static Route

A route entered into a routing table manually by a network administrator. Used to access networks that are not directly connected.

Dynamic Route

A route entered into a routing table automatically by neighboring routers. Protocols include BGP, OSPF, RIP, and EIGRP.

Routing Information Protocol (RIP)

Routers broadcast their network reachability information to other routers regardless of if the information has changed. The oldest routing protocol. Uses hop count as its metric, sending periodic updates every 30 seconds.

Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)

Link-state dynamic protocol to find the most efficient path for data to traverse. Uses Link-State Advertisements.

Link-State Advertisements (LSAs)

When routers share information with their neighbors about their local connections and link speeds.

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)

Core routing protocol of the internet. Manages how data packets travel across independent networks, picking the best path based on administrator policies.

Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP)

An advanced distance-vector routing protocol used by routers to share routing information within an autonomous system. Developed by Cisco.

Route Selection

The process by which a router chooses the best path to forward packets based on their destination.

Administrative Distance

Used to determine which route to send data on if there are more than one to the same location in the routing table based on reliability and trustworthiness. The lowest number takes priority.

Prefix Length

The bit count in the network portion of an IP address. Determined by the subnet mask.

Metric

A numerical value given to a path that determines the cost/preference of choosing it. A lower metric takes priority.

Hop

One step a data packet takes as it moves from one router, switch, or network node to the next.

Default Gateway

A conceptual path or IP address that tells a device how to exit its local network

Router

The physical or virtual hardware device that forwards data between networks using IP addresses.