The Backbone Of Connectivity: Routed and Routing Protocols
Introduction
Routed and routing protocols are the backbones of modern network communication. It is just like a bus and road. Routing protocols are the road, and the bus is just like routed protocols. The bus carries the passengers (Actual data), while the road finds a path to the destination for routing protocols. It helps us to connect our devices, deliver our data, and convey our messages. The details of both the protocols are below one by one as well as similarities and differences.
Routed Protocol
The data that flows from one network to another network is defined by the routed protocol. The data is transported by routed protocol. These protocols also specify the data’s structure and format. It also specifies how it will be transmitted from the source network to the destination network.
The Internet Protocol is the routed protocol that is most frequently used. An IP is the heart of modern computer networking. IP deals in computer addressing which is called IP address. An IP address is the identification of a computer in the computer network. The current version of IP addressing is IPv4 and IPv6. IPv6 has a length of 128 bits, whereas IPv4 has 32 bits. Both versions are used simultaneously at this time in the computer networking world.
IPv4: 192.168.1.1/24
IPv6: 2001::1/64
Other examples of routed protocols are:
Novel IPX: IPX is 80 bits long and represented in hexadecimal format e.g. C50A12B0.
Dec net: DEC net is 32-bit long and written as 11.4.1.33
Apple Talk: Apple Talk is also 32 bits long and is generally represented by names e.g. “imran-pc@workgroup”.
The routing protocol finds a path for data while the routed protocol carries the actual data.
Configuration of Routed and Routing protocols
We advertised the RIP protocol via the router command in the first command. Similarly, we advertised routed protocol (IP) through network command in routing protocol (RIP). If we don’t specify IP, then the RIP will not reach the destination and vice versa.
Routing Protocols
Routing protocol helps a Router find the best path from one network to another. First, they find all the paths to the destination’s network, then decide which path is best, and then store that in its routing table. They move the data from source to destination through these best paths.
Two categories of routing protocols exist, static and dynamic. We do manual entries in the static routing or changes in the network. While there is automated configuration in dynamic routing protocols.
Dynamic routing protocols are further subdivided into IGP and EGP. IGP works within an organization while EGP connects two different organizations (Autonomous System).
Examples of IGP are RIP (v1 & v2), OSPF, IS-IS, and EIGRP while an example of EGP is Border Gateway Protocol (BGPO. e.g. RIP (v1 & v2), OSPF, ISIS, EIGRP, BGP.
Similarities and differences between routed and routed protocols
1) Similarities
Dynamic: Both protocols are dynamic by nature. They easily adapt themselves to the network topology, such as trigger updates, link failures, or the addition of any route in the network.
Objective: The objective of routed and routing protocols is data communication. One protocol takes the data and the other is finding a path for it.
Hierarchical structure: Both types of protocols follow a hierarchical structure.
Dependency: Routed and routed protocols are dependent on each other. If we configure just routed protocols but don’t configure routing protocols, then we will not reach the destination and vice versa.
Interoperability: Both protocols provide interoperability by allowing devices to connect regardless of their vendor support.
2) Differences
Functionality: Routing protocols find the path while routed protocols carry the actual data.
Examples: Examples of routed protocols are IP, IPv6, IPX, Apple Talk, and DEC net. While the examples of routing protocols are RIP, OSPF, EIGRP, IS-IS, and BGP.
Devices: We configure Routed Protocols on devices, while routing protocols on networking devices like routers, firewalls, etc.
Types: Routed Protocols will be either static or dynamic while the other type may be either routable or not routable.
