1. Introduction
More often than not, as network administrators, we commonly come across routing protocols such as BGP and OSPF while designing and troubleshooting. This is because these routing protocols are the backbone of system communications.
In this tutorial, we’ll elucidate networking protocols, their types, and the major differences between EIGRP, OSPF, and BGP.
Without further ado, let’s get into the nitty-gritty details of it.
2. What Are Networking Protocols?
A network protocol is an established collection of rules and standards that help specify how data must be sent to and received from various devices. These protocols act as a common language for computer systems to communicate with each other. The Open System Interface (OSI) is the framework used to establish open communications between the systems. Amongst all protocols, TCP/IP [Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol] is the most widely used in communication networks. It’s the set of layered protocols used for network communication.
Though most network traffic uses TCP/IP, other networking protocols do exist. To name a few: ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol), IPSec (Internet Protocol Security), IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol), etc.
Typically, consortiums like the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), W3C (World Wide Web Consortium), ISO (International Organization for Standardization), and TU (International Telecommunications Union) will define and publish different network protocols that can be leveraged by the systems.
3. Network Routing Protocols
Routers are important backbone components for server-client communication because they help route network traffic between devices in the most efficient way. To identify the network’s shortest path, the router uses routing protocols. These protocols help the routers find the best path based on certain parameters and forward the user’s data.
The most well-known protocols include BGP, EiGRP, RIP, OSPF, and IS-IS:
4. Differences: EIGRP vs. OSPF vs. BGP
Attributes
EIGRP
OSPF
BGP
Name
Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol
Open Shortest Path First
Border Gateway Protocol
Method
Distance Vector Protocol
Link State Routing
Path Vector Protocol
Algorithm
DUAL (Diffusing Update Algorithm)
DIJKSTRA Algorithm
Best Path Algorithm
Type
Interior Gateway Protocol
Interior Gateway Protocol
Exterior Gateway Protocol
Hop Count
224 (100 default)
None
None
Classless
Yes
Yes
Yes
VLSM Support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Convergence Speed
Very Fast
Fast
Slow
Network Size
Large
Large
Very Large
Multicast IP
224.0.0.10
224.0.0.5, 224.0.0.6
NA
Port No
88
89
TCP 179
Vendor Compatibility
EIGRP was formerly a Cisco proprietary protocol; however, in 2013, Cisco declared EIGRP an open standard protocol compatible with all OEMs.
Yes
Yes
Global Routing Table Entry
The Letter “D” represents EIGRP
The Letter “O” represents OSPF
The Letter “B” represents BGP
Route Computation
To achieve quick convergence, EIGRP saves all routes rather than just the optimal one.
OSPF is based on link-state technology and computes the shortest path using the SPF algorithm.
This routing system often requires a very extensive Internet, and if it is employed, each router needs to have a sizable link-state database.
Administrative Distance
EIGRP 90 (Internal), 170 (External) is AD
110 AD
eBGP 20, iBGP 200 is AD
Metrics
Using bandwidth, reliability, load, and delay
Using bandwidth, cost
Using BGP attributes
Implementation
Basic Configuration is simple
Basic Configuration is simple
Easy to moderately difficult for basic configuration
Resource Consumption
Demands low CPU and memory
Demands high CPU and memory
Directly proportional to the size of the routing table
Usage
EIGRP’s only flaw is that it cannot be used for very long and can mostly work with Cisco software.
OSPF will be the dynamic routing protocol in use on the LAN unless a network is very tiny, out-of-date, or predominantly Cisco.
If the primary connection breaks, this protocol can be used to switch from one ISP link to another dynamically.
5. Conclusion
In this article, we’ve learned about the basic network routing protocols, which are the real backbone of the communication systems that exist today. The router uses these protocols for identifying the best routes and forwarding user traffic.
Further, we’ve also dove deeper into the distinctions between EIGRP, OSPF, and BGP. As we see, each routing protocol has its own advantages and disadvantages based on the network design and architecture. Many businesses may also deploy different routing protocols concurrently on the same network using route redistribution strategies.