Rip Overview - Dell PowerConnect B-FCXs Configuration Manual

Configuring RIP (IPv4)
Table 170
TABLE 170
Feature
RIP V1 and V2
Route learning and advertising
Route redistribution into RIP
Route metrics
Route loop prevention:
•
•
RIP route advertisement suppression on
a VRRP or VRRPE backup interface
Route filters
CPU utilization statistics for RIP

RIP overview

Routing Information Protocol (RIP) is an IP route exchange protocol that uses a distance vector (a
number representing a distance) to measure the cost of a given route. The cost is a distance
vector because the cost often is equivalent to the number of router hops between the Layer 3
Switch and the destination network.
A Layer 3 Switch can receive multiple paths to a destination. The software evaluates the paths,
selects the best path, and saves the path in the IP route table as the route to the destination.
Typically, the best path is the path with the fewest hops. A hop is another router through which
packets must travel to reach the destination. If the Layer 3 Switch receives a RIP update from
another router that contains a path with fewer hops than the path stored in the Layer 3 Switch
route table, the Layer 3 Switch replaces the older route with the newer one. The Layer 3 Switch
then includes the new path in the updates it sends to other RIP routers, including Layer 3 Switches.
RIP routers, including the Layer 3 Switch, also can modify a route cost, generally by adding to it, to
bias the selection of a route for a given destination. In this case, the actual number of router hops
may be the same, but the route has an administratively higher cost and is thus less likely to be
used than other, lower-cost routes.
A RIP route can have a maximum cost of 15. Any destination with a higher cost is considered
unreachable. Although limiting to larger networks, the low maximum hop count prevents endless
loops in the network.
Layer 3 Switches support the following RIP versions:
PowerConnect B-Series FCX Configuration Guide
53-1002266-01
lists the individual Dell PowerConnect switches and the RIP features they support.
Supported RIP features
Poison reverse
Split horizon
PowerConnect B-Series FCX
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
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