Asian Journal of Technology & Management Research [ISSN: 2249 –0892] Vol.

04 – Issue: 01 (Jan - Jun 2014)

A Comparative Evaluation of Classless Routing

Protocols (EIGRP) and Classful Routing Protocols
(RIP)
Mohd. Rahul
College of Computers and Information Technology
Taif University,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
[email protected]

Abstract- The Classful routing protocol does not carry the RIP version 1
subnet mask information in its routing table. RIP version 1
The originally RIP specified in RFC 1058 [5] Uses Classful
(Routing Information Protocol) is a Classful routing protocol,
this was the Internet's first widely used routing protocol in routing. The periodic routing updates do not carry subnet
networks. RIP is useful for local and medium size networks. The information, lacking support for variable length subnet masks
RIP is known as a distance-vector routing protocol, which works (VLSM). This limitation makes it impossible to have
in the hop count as a routing metric, The RIP allowed 15 no’s different-sized subnets inside of the same network class. So
maximum hops counts. The 16th hop count is considered as the all subnets in a network class must have the same size. RIP
infinite distance viewing such distance as unreachable and V1 doesn’t support for router authentication, making RIP
undesirable route in it routing process. The RIP operates the vulnerable to various attacks. [6]
limited size of the networks.
1. RIP uses the Bellman-Ford Algorithm to calculate its
The Classless routing protocol can carry the subnet mask routes.
information, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol 2. RIP uses the Bellman Ford Algorithm to calculate the
(EIGRP) is an advanced distance-vector routing protocol, network.
Classful routing protocol designed by Cisco Systems. EIGRP is 3. The all router sends a list of distance-vectors each of
an enhanced version of old routing protocol, as IGRP (Interior its neighbors periodically in the network.
Gateway Routing Protocol). EIGRP supports VLSM and CIDR
allowing network designers to maximize address space. EIGRP is
4. The metric should be a positive integer. The metric
based on distance vector and link-state algorithms. This paper measures the cost to get to the destination. In RIP, the
consist of advantages of classless (EIGRP) routing protocol over cost describes number of hops.
Classful routing Protocol (RIP). This includes the various trouble 5. RIP allowed 15 hops counts.
resolving techniques and traffic handling techniques during 6. RIPv1 is specified in RFC 1058
communication in simple as well in bulky networks. [1] 7. RIPv2 is specified in RFC 2453[5]
Key Words: - Routing protocols, Classful (RIP), Classless The Massage format for RIP
(EIGRP)
RIP message format is shown in below. (Fig: 1) all messages
I. INTRODUCTION contains command entry and a version number and can
contain entries for up to 25 routes. Each route entry includes
Classful Routing: The Classful routing Protocol does not send an address family ID (identifier), the IP address accessible by
subnet mask info at what time a route update is send out. All the route, and the hop count for the route. [7]
devices in the system has to make use of the similar subnet
mask. It’s not allows Variable Length Subnet Masking. [2] Command Version Reserved
Address Family ID Reserved
For example: RIP V1 & IGRP are the Classful routing
protocols IP Address
Reserved
Routing Information Protocol (RIP): Reserved
RIP is a Classful protocol, means that it doesn't carry subnet Metric
mask info in its routing table. RIP is not able to support Fig: 1 (Massage format for RIP)
Variable Length Subnet Masking (VLSM) and discontiguous
networks. It is a Distance-Vector protocol. Command will always be set to either one, signifying a
Request message, or two, signifying a Response message.

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 Asian Journal of Technology & Management Research [ISSN: 2249 –0892] Vol. 04 – Issue: 01 (Jan - Jun 2014)

There are some other commands, but they are all either information, and supporting Classless Inter-Domain Routing
obsolete or reserved for private use. (CIDR). RIP v2 also support 15 hop counts to maintain the
Version will be set to one for RIPv1. backward compatibility.
Address Family Identifier is set to two for IP. The only RIP v2 multicasts the routing table to avoid unnecessary load
exception to this is a request for a router’s full route table.
on hosts that do not participate in routing. RIPv2 multicasts
IP Address is the address of the destination of the route. This the entire routing table to all neighboring routers, as opposed
entry might be a major network address, a subnet, or a host to RIPv1 which uses broadcast. In RIP v2 allowed unicast
route. addressing for special applications.
Metric is a hop count between 1 and 16.
RIPv2 is Internet Standard STD56 (which is RFC 2453).
RIP Timers The route tags were also added in RIP v2. Route tag
functionality allows for routes to be distinguished from
RIP uses several timers to control its operation. internal routes to external redistributed routes from EGP
There are 4 different timers that are used in RIP (Fig 2) (Exterior Gateway Protocol) protocols. [6]
 Update Timer
 Invalid Timer RIPng
 Hold down Timer
RIP next generation (RIPng), defined in RFC 2080. This is an
 Flush Timer extension of RIPv2. RIPng is supporting of IPv6 (Internet
Protocol version 6), the next generation Internet Protocol.
Update Timer:
Time between each update = 30s (Default) The main differences between RIPv2 and RIPng are:
Invalid Timer:
“Margin of the error” for update = 180s (Default)  RIPng is supporting IPv6 protocol.
Hold-down Timer:
Route declare unusable = 180s (Default)  While RIPv2 supports RIPv1 supporting IPv4
Flush Timer:
Remove route =240s (Default)  RIPv2 supports RIPv1 updates authentication
Fig 2: (RIP Timer)
 RIPng does not updates authentication. IPv6
The characteristics of a Classful routing protocols are given supposed to use IPsec for authentication.
below:
 RIPv2 allows attaching arbitrary tags to routes.
• In Classful routing, each IP address requires its own entry
in the routing table. [3]  RIPng does not allows attaching arbitrary tags to
routes.
• Summarization occurs at the network boundary.
 RIPv2 encodes the next-hop into each route entries.
• Foreign networks exchanged the routes are summarized to
the NIC number network boundary.  RIPng requires specific encoding of the next hop for
a set of route entries.
• Inside the same network (NIC number), subnet routes are
exchanged by routers, without the mask. The characteristics of a classless routing protocol are listed
here:
• The consumption of address space may be inefficient.
• In Classless routing network the router interfaces within the
• The VLSM is not possible within the Classful networks. same network can have different – different subnet masks
Classless Routing: The Classless routing protocols were (VLSM).
designed to overcome the constraints listed above. The
Classless routing sends subnet mask information within the • Classless Inter Domain Routing (CIDR) is supported by
routing updates. Classless routing protocols allows Variable classless routing protocols like: BGP-4 and RIP v2.
Length Subnet Masking (VLSM).
For example: RIP V2, EIGRP, OSPF, IS-IS and BGP. • Some routes can be summarized within the major NIC
number. This is done manually. [4]
RIP version 2
The differences between classless and Classful are important
The RIP version 2 (RIP v2) was developed in 1993[6] and last within the routing protocols.
standardized in 1998. [6] RIP v2 can carry the subnet

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 Asian Journal of Technology & Management Research [ISSN: 2249 –0892] Vol. 04 – Issue: 01 (Jan - Jun 2014)

Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol The EIGRP Metrics

Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing (EIGRP), referred to an The EIGRP can utilize 5 separate metrics to determine the best
advanced Distance Vector (DV) protocol, EIGRP offers radical route/ path to a destination:
improvements over Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP). •Bandwidth (K1) – The slowest link in the route, measured in
DV protocols such as RIP and IGRP exchange periodic routing kilobits
updates with their neighbors, saving the best distance or metric •Load (K2) – Cumulative load of all outgoing interfaces in the
and the next hop for each destination. EIGRP is different in path, given as a fraction of 255
that it saves not only the best route but all routes, allowing •Delay of the Line (K3) – Cumulative delay of all outgoing
convergence to be much faster. The EIGRP updates are sent interfaces in the path in tens of microseconds
only upon a network topology change, updates are not periodic. •Reliability (K4) – Average reliability of all outgoing
[8] interfaces in the path, given as a fraction of 255
•MTU (K5) – The smallest Maximum Transmission Unit in
The EIGRP is having fast convergence feature due to the the path. The Metric never use the MTU for calculation.
Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL). [8] The IP header of an
EIGRP packet specifies protocol number 88, and the maximum
EIGPR used only Bandwidth and Delay of the Line. This is
length of the packet will be the IP Maximum Transmission
equal to IGRP, except that EIGRP provides a more granular
Unit (MTU) of the interface on which it is transmitted usually
metric by multiplying the bandwidth and delay by 256.
1500 octets. [8]
Bandwidth and delay are determined by the interfaces that lead
to the destination network. [11]
EIGRP Reliable Transport Protocol

EIGRP is having five types of packets, further categorized as The full formula for determining the EIGRP metric is:
reliable packets and unreliable packets. [10000000/bandwidth + delay] * 256

The reliable EIGRP packets are as follows [8]: Bandwidth value represents the link with the lowest
bandwidth in the path, in kilobits. Delay is the total delay of all
Update— This packet is having EIGRP routing updates sent outgoing interfaces in the path.
to an EIGRP neighbor.
Query— When the route is not available the queries are sent As mentioned above, every metric is symbolized with a “K”
to neighbors and the router needs to ask the status of the route and then a number. For configuring EIGRP metrics only
for fast convergence. Bandwidth and Delay are considered. Thus, using on/off logic:
Reply— Reply packets is having the status of the route being
queried for. K1=1, K2=0, K3=1, K4=0, K5=0
The unreliable EIGRP packets are as follows: If all metrics set to “on,” then full formula for determining the
EIGRP metric will be:
Hello— EIGRP neighbor relationships across a link is used
Hello packets. [K1*bandwidth*256+ (K2*bandwidth)/ (256 -load)
Acknowledgment— Acknowledgment packets ensure reliable +K3*delay*256]*[K5/ (reliability+K4)]
delivery of EIGRP packets.
Remember, the “K” value is either set to on (“1”) or off
(“0”).
The EIGRP Table
The Packet Header for EIGRP
EIGRP A) List of the connected neighbors
Neighbor B) Interface EIGRP, IP header packet specifies IP protocol number 88
Table C) Next hop router within it, and the maximum length of the packet will be the IP
Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) of the interface on which
it is transmitted, most of the time 1500 octets. (Fig: 3)
The IP header is the various Type/Length/Value (TLV) triplets.
EIGRP A) List of all learned routes from These TLVs will not only carry the route records but also give
Topology all EIGRP neighbors the fields for managing of the DUAL process, multicast
Table B) Metric sequencing, and IOS software versions from the router. [12]
C) Destination
Version (0-8) Opcode (8-16) Checksum (24-32)
Flags (32)
Global Best routes from the EIGRP topology Sequence Number (32)
Routing table will be copied to the routing table
Table

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 Asian Journal of Technology & Management Research [ISSN: 2249 –0892] Vol. 04 – Issue: 01 (Jan - Jun 2014)

Autonomous System Number (32) Step2: Assign the IP address for PC0 as: 10.0.0.2 255.0.0.0
with Gateway 10.0.0.1
Type (16) Length (16) Step3: For Router-1

Values (32) Router>en

Router#conf t
Other TLV (Type/Length/Value ) Triplets … Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with
CNTL/Z.
Fig: 3 (EIGRP Packet Header) Router(config)#hostname Router-1
Router-1(config)#enable secret cisco
The EIGRP header contains the following fields: [13] Router-1(config)#line vty 0 4
Router-1(config-line)#password cisco
Field Description Router-1(config-line)#login
Version The current EIGRP version is 2. Router-1(config-line)#exit
Opcode Identifies the types of EIGRP packet. Router-1(config)#^Z
The checksum of the entire EIGRP Router-1#
Checksum %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console
packet, excluding the IP header.
The flag indicates either an init for Router-1#wr me
new neighbor relationship or the Building configuration...
Flags conditional receive for EIGRP RTP [OK]
(Reliable Transport Protocol). Router-1#
EIGRP contain only two flags now.
Identified the SEQ number used by Router-1#conf t
Sequence and Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with
RTP. ACK used by EIGRP RTP for
Acknowledgement CNTL/Z.
reliable message exchange.
Autonomous Identifies the autonomous system of Router-1(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/0
System Number an EIGRP packet. Router-1(config-if)#ip address 172.16.0.1 255.255.0.0
TLVs are- a 16-bit Type field, a 16- Router-1(config-if)#no shutdown
Type / Length / %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface FastEthernet0/0, changed
bit Length field, and a vary number
Value (TLV) state to up
of fields depends on the type of TLV.
%LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface
II. SIMULATION OF RIP V1 AND EIGRP FastEthernet0/0, changed state to up
Router-1(config-if)#ex
RIPv1 Configuration: Router-1(config)#interface serial 1/0
For the simulation part, we will use Cisco Packet Tracer Router-1(config-if)#ip address 192.168.0.1 255.255.255.0
5.3.3.0019. We will use two Routers-2811, serial ports for Router-1(config-if)#encapsulation ppp
connection, Pcs and IP addresses. Router-1(config-if)#no sh
%LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface Serial1/0, changed state to
down
Router-1(config-if)#
Router-1#
%SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console

Router-1#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with
CNTL/Z.
Router-1(config)#router rip
Router-1(config-router)#network 172.16.0.0
Router-1(config-router)#network 192.168.0.0
Router-1(config-router)#end
Router-1#
%SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console
Fig: 4 Simulation Router-1#show ip protocols
Routing Protocol is "rip"
Step1: Assign the IP address for PC0 as: 172.16.0.2 Sending updates every 30 seconds, next due in 21 seconds
255.255.0.0 with Gateway 172.16.0.1 Invalid after 180 seconds, hold down 180, flushed after 240
Outgoing update filter list for all interfaces is not set

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 Asian Journal of Technology & Management Research [ISSN: 2249 –0892] Vol. 04 – Issue: 01 (Jan - Jun 2014)

Incoming update filter list for all interfaces is not set EIGRP Configuration:
Redistributing: rip

Default version control: send version 1, receive any version

Interface Send Recv Triggered RIP Key-chain
FastEthernet0/0 1 21
Automatic network summarization is in effect
Maximum path: 4
Routing for Networks:
172.16.0.0
192.168.0.0 Router>en
Passive Interface(s): Router#conf t
Routing Information Sources: Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with
Gateway Distance Last Update CNTL/Z.
Distance: (default is 120) Router(config)#hostname Router-1
Router-1(config)#enable secret cisco
Configuration for Router-2- approx same as Router-1 Router-1(config)#line vty 0 4
Just change the IP addresses and connected networks. Router-1(config-line)#password cisco
Router-1#sh ip route Router-1(config-line)#login
Codes: C - connected, S - static, I - IGRP, R - RIP, M - mobile, Router-1(config-line)#exit
B – BGP D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - Router-1(config)#^Z
OSPF inter area N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF Router-1#
NSSA external type 2 E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console
external type 2, E – EGP i - IS-IS, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS- Router-1#wr me
IS level-2, via - IS-IS inter area * - candidate default, U - per- Building configuration...
user static route, o – ODR P - periodic downloaded static [OK]
route Gateway of last resort is not set Router-1#
R 10.0.0.0/8 [120/1] via 192.168.0.2, 00:00:13, Serial1/0 Router-1#conf t
C 172.16.0.0/16 is directly connected, FastEthernet0/0 Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with
192.168.0.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks CNTL/Z.
C 192.168.0.0/24 is directly connected, Serial1/0 Router-1(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/0
C 192.168.0.2/32 is directly connected, Serial1/0 Router-1(config-if)#ip address 172.16.0.1 255.255.0.0
Packet Tracer PC Command Line 1.0 Router-1(config-if)#no shutdown
PC>ping 10.0.0.2 %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface FastEthernet0/0, changed
Pinging 10.0.0.2 with 32 bytes of data: state to up
Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=126 %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface
Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time=20ms TTL=126 FastEthernet0/0, changed state to up
Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time=18ms TTL=126 Router-1(config-if)#ex
Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=126 Router-1(config)#interface serial 1/0
Router-1(config-if)#ip address 192.168.0.1 255.255.255.0
Ping statistics for 10.0.0.2: Router-1(config-if)#encapsulation ppp
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Router-1(config-if)#no sh
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface Serial1/0, changed state to
Minimum = 17ms, Maximum = 20ms, Average = 18ms down
Packet Tracer PC Command Line 1.0 Router-1(config-if)#
PC>ping 172.16.0.2 Router-1#
Pinging 172.16.0.2 with 32 bytes of data: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console
Reply from 172.16.0.2: bytes=32 time=18ms TTL=126 Router-1#conf t
Reply from 172.16.0.2: bytes=32 time=18ms TTL=126 Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with
Reply from 172.16.0.2: bytes=32 time=20ms TTL=126 CNTL/Z.
Reply from 172.16.0.2: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=126 Router-1(config)#router EIGRP 10
Router-1(config-router)#network 172.16.0.0
Ping statistics for 172.16.0.2: Router-1(config-router)#network 192.168.0.0
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Router-1(config-router)#end
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Router-1#
Minimum = 18ms, Maximum = 30ms, Average = 21ms %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console
Router-1#sh ip route

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 Asian Journal of Technology & Management Research [ISSN: 2249 –0892] Vol. 04 – Issue: 01 (Jan - Jun 2014)

Codes: C - connected, S - static, I - IGRP, R - RIP, M - space might be insufficient. space is more efficient.
mobile, B - BGP D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - Implements triggered Uses DUAL for loop
OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area N1 - OSPF NSSA external type updates. prevention.
1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2 E1 - OSPF external Do not support VLSM. Supports VLSM.
type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2, E – EGP i - IS-IS, L1 - Allow only automatic Allow manual summarization
IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2, ia - IS-IS inter area * - summarization of routes. of routes.
candidate default, U - per-user static route, o – ODR P - Protocol working on Protocol working on
periodic downloaded static route Classful Routing – RIP Classless routing – RIP
Gateway of last resort is not set version1, IGRP version2,RIPng, EIGRP,
OSPF, IS-IS and BGP-4
D 10.0.0.0/8 [90/20514560] via 192.168.0.2, 00:08:08, Used in small, flat Used in large networks
Serial1/0 networks.
C 172.16.0.0/16 is directly connected, FastEthernet0/0
192.168.0.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks IV. CONCLUSION
C 192.168.0.0/24 is directly connected, Serial1/0 The routing protocol is showing how routers communicate
C 192.168.0.2/32 is directly connected, Serial1/0 with each other, disseminating information that enables them
to select routes between any two computers on a computer
Configuration for Router-2- approx same as Router-1 network. [15] The routing protocol also specifies how routers
Just change the IP addresses and connected networks. in a network share information with each other and report
changes. The routing protocol enables a network to make
Packet Tracer PC Command Line 1.0 dynamic adjustments to its conditions, so routing decisions do
PC>ping 10.0.0.2 not have to be predetermined and static [16].
Pinging 10.0.0.2 with 32 bytes of data: The Classful protocol doesn't carry subnet mask information
Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=126 in its routing table, RIP v1 is a Classful protocol, means that it
Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time=20ms TTL=126 doesn't carry subnet mask info in its routing table. RIP v1 is
Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time=18ms TTL=126 not able to support Variable Length Subnet Masking (VLSM)
Reply from 10.0.0.2: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=126 and discontiguous networks. EIGRP is a Classless routing
protocol it’s supporting VLSM and uses the notions of
Ping statistics for 10.0.0.2: successor and feasible successor and the query process to
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), achieve fast convergence. EIGRP also carries the subnet mask
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: information when sending out routing update. This enables
Minimum = 17ms, Maximum = 20ms, Average = 18ms EIGRP to support discontiguous networks which makes
EIGRP a scalable routing protocol capable of fitting network
Packet Tracer PC Command Line 1.0 requirements.
PC>ping 172.16.0.2
Pinging 172.16.0.2 with 32 bytes of data: V. REFERENCES
Reply from 172.16.0.2: bytes=32 time=18ms TTL=126
[1] Amir Ranjbar, ―Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco
Reply from 172.16.0.2: bytes=32 time=18ms TTL=126
Reply from 172.16.0.2: bytes=32 time=20ms TTL=126 IP Networks (TSHOOT)‖,Cisco Press,Indian Polis,USA,
Reply from 172.16.0.2: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=126 first edition, 2010.
[2] http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/2613-42-classless-
Ping statistics for 172.16.0.2: classful-routing-protocols.
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), [3] http://docs.fortinet.com/
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: [4] http://www.ciscolibrary.com/
Minimum = 18ms, Maximum = 30ms, Average = 21ms [5] http://www.nada.kth.se/kurser/kth/2d1490/04/lectures/rip.
pdf
III. CLASSFUL ROUTING PROTOCOL VS. CLASSLESS [6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Routing_Information_Protoc
ROUTING PROTOCOL: [14] ol
Classful Routing Protocol Classless Routing Protocol: [7] Jeff. Doyle, Jennifer Carroll ― Routing TCP / IP ‖ ,
Pearson Education, Second edition, 2006.
Classful routing protocol Classless routing protocol [8] http://oreilly.com/catalog/iprouting/
do not carry the Subnet carry Subnet Mask in the [9] www.ijitee.org/attachments/File/v2i5/E0661032413.pdf
mask in the update. update. [10] http://networklessons.com/eigrp/introduction-to-eigrp/
Router interfaces inside the Router interfaces inside the [11] http://www.routeralley.com/ra/docs/eigrp.pdf
same network can’t have same network can have [12] http://ericleahy.com/index.php/eigrp-packets-
different subnets. different subnets. neighborships/
The utilization of addresses The utilization of addresses

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[13] http://www.itcertnotes.com/2011/11/eigrp-packet-
format.html
[14] http://forums.esds.co.in/showthread.php?t=19
[15] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Routing_protocol
[16] http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/routing_protocol.ht
ml

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