EIGRP:

Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) is an advanced routing protocol developed by Cisco
Systems. It is a hybrid routing protocol that combines the features of both distance vector and link-state
routing protocols. EIGRP is designed to provide fast convergence, scalability, and efficient use of network
resources.

Here are some key aspects and features of EIGRP:

1. Autonomous System (AS): EIGRP operates within an Autonomous System, which is a group of
networks under a single administrative domain. EIGRP supports classless routing and can handle
variable length subnet masks (VLSM).

2. Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL): EIGRP uses the DUAL algorithm to determine the best path
to a destination. DUAL calculates and maintains a loop-free routing table by considering both the
metric and the topology of the network. It provides fast convergence by quickly finding
alternative paths in case of link failures.

3. Neighbor Discovery and Maintenance: EIGRP routers establish and maintain neighbor
relationships with other routers in the same network. Hellos packets are used for neighbor
discovery and to establish and verify the adjacency between routers. EIGRP neighbors exchange
routing information and updates to maintain an accurate network topology.

4. Composite Metric: EIGRP uses a composite metric to calculate the best path to a destination.
The composite metric includes various factors such as bandwidth, delay, reliability, load, and
MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit). By default, EIGRP uses bandwidth and delay as its metric
components, but administrators can modify the metric calculation based on their requirements.

5. Routing Table: EIGRP routers maintain a routing table that contains information about the best
path to reach various network destinations. The routing table is dynamically updated based on
the received routing updates from neighboring routers. EIGRP supports both IP and IPX routing,
allowing for the simultaneous routing of different protocols.

6. Convergence and Fast Convergence: EIGRP provides fast convergence by quickly adapting to
network changes. When a link failure or network change occurs, EIGRP routers can reroute
traffic along an alternative path within milliseconds, minimizing network downtime.

7. Load Balancing: EIGRP supports load balancing by allowing multiple equal-cost paths to be used
simultaneously. This helps in distributing traffic across available paths and optimizing network
utilization.

8. Authentication: EIGRP provides authentication mechanisms to ensure the security and integrity
of routing updates exchanged between routers. Authentication helps prevent unauthorized
routers from injecting false routing information into the network.

EIGRP is primarily used in Cisco environments and is commonly deployed in enterprise networks,
providing reliable and efficient routing. It offers advanced features and scalability, making it suitable for
large and complex networks.
OSPF:

OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is a widely used interior gateway protocol (IGP) designed to efficiently
route IP packets within an Autonomous System (AS). OSPF is a link-state routing protocol that uses the
Shortest Path First (SPF) algorithm to determine the best path for routing traffic. It is an open standard
protocol and is widely supported by various vendors.

Here are some key aspects and features of OSPF:

1. Autonomous System (AS): OSPF operates within an Autonomous System, which is a group of networks
under a single administrative domain. OSPF supports classless routing and can handle variable length
subnet masks (VLSM).

2. Areas: OSPF divides a network into areas to enhance scalability and reduce the routing overhead. An
area is a logical grouping of routers that share common network characteristics. OSPF routers exchange
routing information within an area, reducing the amount of routing information that needs to be
processed by routers outside the area. The backbone area (Area 0) is the central area that connects
other areas.

3. Link-State Database (LSDB): OSPF routers maintain a Link-State Database (LSDB) that contains
information about the network's topology. Each router in an area floods Link-State Advertisements
(LSAs) containing information about the router's interfaces, neighboring routers, and network links. By
collecting LSAs from neighboring routers, each router builds and maintains a complete LSDB, allowing it
to calculate the shortest path to each network destination.

4. Dijkstra's Shortest Path First (SPF) Algorithm: OSPF uses the SPF algorithm, also known as Dijkstra's
algorithm, to calculate the shortest path to each network destination. The SPF algorithm considers the
link costs between routers and selects the path with the lowest cumulative cost as the best path. The
cost is usually based on the link bandwidth but can also take other factors into account.

5. Neighbor Discovery and Maintenance: OSPF routers establish and maintain neighbor relationships
with other routers within the same area. Neighbor relationships are formed through the exchange of
Hello packets, which contain information about the router's OSPF capabilities and network connectivity.
OSPF routers form adjacencies with neighbors, enabling the exchange of LSAs and synchronization of the
LSDB.
6. Routing Table: OSPF routers maintain a routing table that contains the best paths to reach various
network destinations. The routing table is populated based on the information received from the LSDB.
Each router independently calculates its own routing table using the SPF algorithm and advertises the
best paths to neighboring routers.

7. Convergence and Fast Convergence: OSPF provides fast convergence by quickly adapting to network
changes. When a link failure or network change occurs, OSPF routers can recalculate the shortest path
and update their routing tables efficiently. This allows for quick restoration of connectivity and minimizes
network downtime.

8. Load Balancing: OSPF supports equal-cost multipath (ECMP) load balancing, allowing for the
distribution of traffic across multiple paths with the same cost. This enhances network utilization and
improves overall performance.

9. Authentication: OSPF provides authentication mechanisms to ensure the security and integrity of
routing updates exchanged between routers. Authentication helps prevent unauthorized routers from
injecting false routing information into the network.

OSPF is commonly used in enterprise networks and internet service provider (ISP) networks due to its
scalability, fast convergence, and support for large networks with complex topologies. It is suitable for
environments where there is a need for efficient and reliable routing of IP traffic.

STATIC ROUTING:

Static routing is a method of configuring network routes manually on a router or network device. In
static routing, network administrators manually configure the routing table entries on each router to
determine the paths that network traffic should take to reach specific destinations.

Here are the key points and characteristics of static routing:

1. Manual Configuration: Unlike dynamic routing protocols that automatically exchange routing
information between routers, static routing requires administrators to manually configure the routing
table entries on each router. This involves specifying the destination network addresses and the
corresponding next-hop routers or exit interfaces.
2. Fixed Routes: Static routes remain constant unless they are manually modified by the network
administrator. They do not dynamically adapt to changes in the network topology or link failures. This
makes static routing less flexible compared to dynamic routing protocols.

3. Administrative Distance: Each static route is assigned an administrative distance, which is a value
indicating the trustworthiness or preference of the route. When multiple routes to the same destination
exist, the route with the lowest administrative distance is chosen. The administrative distance
determines the priority of routes when there are conflicts or overlapping routes.

4. Routing Table Size: In static routing, the routing table contains only the manually configured routes.
This results in a smaller routing table compared to dynamic routing protocols, which exchange and store
information about multiple routes and network topologies.

5. Simple Configuration: Static routing is relatively simple to configure and does not require significant
computational resources or complex protocols. It is suitable for small networks or environments where
the network topology is stable and changes are infrequent.

6. Limited Scalability: Static routing is not scalable for large networks with complex topologies or
frequent changes. As the network grows, the manual configuration of routes becomes time-consuming
and error-prone. Additionally, static routing does not offer automatic load balancing or redundancy,
which can limit the network's efficiency and resiliency.

7. Security: Static routing can provide enhanced security by allowing administrators to explicitly define
the routes and control the flow of network traffic. It reduces the risk of unauthorized routing updates or
malicious attacks targeting the routing infrastructure.

8. Troubleshooting and Debugging: Static routing simplifies troubleshooting as network administrators

Static routing is commonly used in smaller networks, point-to-point connections, or specific scenarios
where dynamic routing protocols are not necessary or not feasible. It provides a predictable and
deterministic routing behavior, but it requires manual maintenance and does not adapt to network
changes automatically.
DYNAMIC ROUTING (RIP):

Dynamic routing is a network routing method that automatically exchanges routing information between
routers using routing protocols. One such dynamic routing protocol is the Routing Information Protocol
(RIP). RIP is an interior gateway protocol (IGP) designed for use within an autonomous system (AS) to
facilitate the exchange of routing information and determine the best paths for network traffic.

Here are the key points and characteristics of dynamic routing with RIP:

1. Routing Protocol: RIP is a distance-vector routing protocol that operates based on the hop count
metric. Each router participating in RIP advertises its routing table to neighboring routers, and they
exchange this information periodically. RIP uses the Bellman-Ford algorithm to calculate the best paths
to destination networks based on the hop count.

2. Periodic Updates: RIP routers exchange routing updates at regular intervals to inform each other
about network changes. By default, RIP sends updates every 30 seconds. These updates contain
information about reachable networks and the hop count to reach them.

3. Distance Metric: RIP uses hop count as its metric to determine the best path to a destination network.
The hop count represents the number of routers or network segments that must be traversed to reach a
destination. RIP allows a maximum hop count of 15, beyond which a route is considered unreachable.

4. Split Horizon: RIP employs the split horizon mechanism to prevent routing loops. This means that a
router does not advertise a route back to the same interface from which it was received. Split horizon
helps to maintain routing stability and prevent incorrect routing information from propagating.

5. Route Poisoning and Holddown Timers: To further avoid routing loops, RIP uses a technique called
route poisoning. When a router detects that a route has become unreachable, it advertises the route
with a hop count of 16, indicating that it is no longer reachable. This information is shared with other
routers, preventing them from using the failed route. Additionally, RIP implements holddown timers to
temporarily ignore route updates after a route has become unreachable to avoid premature route
reinstatement.

6. Convergence: Dynamic routing protocols, including RIP, aim to achieve network convergence.
Convergence refers to the state when all routers in a network have learned about network changes and
updated their routing tables accordingly. RIP achieves convergence by exchanging routing updates and
recalculating the best paths based on the received information.
7. Scalability and Flexibility: Dynamic routing protocols like RIP are scalable and flexible, making them
suitable for larger networks with complex topologies. They can adapt to changes in the network, such as
link failures or additions, by dynamically recalculating routes and updating routing tables accordingly.

8. Automatic Route Propagation: RIP routers automatically propagate routing updates to adjacent
routers, allowing them to learn about network changes without manual intervention. This automatic
route propagation simplifies network management and reduces the need for manual configuration.

RIP is a widely used dynamic routing protocol, particularly in smaller networks or environments where
simplicity and ease of configuration are important. However, it has certain limitations, such as slower
convergence and the inability to handle large networks efficiently. Other dynamic routing protocols, such
as OSPF and EIGRP, offer more advanced features and scalability compared to RIP.

SWITCHING (VLAN/TRUNK/STP/VTP):

Switching is a networking technique that involves the use of network switches to connect devices within
a local area network (LAN). Switches are devices that receive incoming network traffic and forward it to
the appropriate destination based on the MAC (Media Access Control) addresses of the devices
connected to the switch ports. Switching provides efficient and reliable communication between devices
in a LAN by creating dedicated communication paths.

Here are the explanations of key terms related to switching:

1. VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network): VLAN is a logical segmentation of a LAN that allows network
administrators to divide a physical network into multiple virtual networks. Each VLAN operates as a
separate broadcast domain, isolating traffic and providing enhanced security and flexibility. VLANs can be
created based on factors such as department, function, or security requirements, and devices within the
same VLAN can communicate with each other as if they were connected to the same switch, even if they
are physically located on different switches.

2. VTP (VLAN Trunking Protocol): VTP is a Cisco proprietary protocol used to manage VLAN configuration
consistency across a network. It enables the distribution of VLAN information from a VTP server to VTP
client switches, allowing for easy VLAN configuration and maintenance. VTP allows VLANs to be created,
deleted, or modified on a VTP server and automatically synchronizes the changes to the VTP client
switches within the same VTP domain.
3. STP (Spanning Tree Protocol): STP is a protocol used to prevent network loops in a redundant network
topology. When multiple paths exist between switches, STP determines the best path and blocks
redundant paths to avoid loops that can cause broadcast storms and network instability. STP allows for
redundant links to be available as backups in case of link failures. The IEEE 802.1D standard defines the
original STP, while newer versions like RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol) and MSTP (Multiple Spanning
Tree Protocol) offer faster convergence and better scalability.

4. Trunk: A trunk is a network link that carries traffic for multiple VLANs between switches. Trunks allow
multiple VLANs to be transmitted over a single physical link, maximizing network efficiency and reducing
the number of required connections. Trunking protocols like IEEE 802.1Q or Cisco's Inter-Switch Link (ISL)
encapsulate frames with VLAN tags, allowing switches to differentiate and forward traffic to the correct
VLANs.

Switching plays a crucial role in creating efficient and flexible networks by enabling the interconnection
of devices, the segmentation of LANs using VLANs, and the prevention of network loops through
protocols like STP. VTP simplifies VLAN configuration and management across switches, while trunking
allows for the efficient transmission of multiple VLANs over a single link. Together, these technologies
provide the foundation for building scalable and resilient LANs.

ROUTER ON A STICK:

Router on a Stick, also known as "One-Arm Router," is a networking configuration that allows a router to
provide inter-VLAN routing using a single physical interface. This configuration is commonly used in
environments where there is a need to segregate network traffic into multiple VLANs and route traffic
between them using a single router interface.

In a traditional network setup, each VLAN would require a separate physical interface on the router to
perform inter-VLAN routing. However, with Router on a Stick, a single router interface is used to connect
to a switch that carries multiple VLANs.

Here's how Router on a Stick works:

1. Physical Setup: The router is connected to a switch using a trunk link. The trunk link carries traffic from
multiple VLANs over a single physical connection. The switch is configured with VLANs, and the router
interface connected to the switch is configured as a trunk port.
2. VLAN Tagging: Each VLAN's traffic is tagged with a unique VLAN ID using a protocol like IEEE 802.1Q.
The switch adds a VLAN tag to each Ethernet frame as it leaves a VLAN and enters the trunk link. The
VLAN tag identifies the VLAN to which the frame belongs.

3. Router Configuration: On the router, the single physical interface connected to the switch is configured
as a trunk interface. Sub-interfaces are then created on the router, one for each VLAN. Each sub-
interface is assigned a unique VLAN ID and IP address within the respective VLAN's subnet.

4. Inter-VLAN Routing: The router acts as the default gateway for devices in each VLAN. When a device in
one VLAN wants to communicate with a device in another VLAN, it sends the traffic to the router. The
router receives the tagged Ethernet frames, examines the VLAN ID, and routes the traffic between the
appropriate sub-interfaces based on the VLAN ID.

5. Routing Protocol or Static Routes: The router can use a routing protocol (e.g., OSPF, EIGRP) or static
routes to learn and advertise the connected VLAN subnets to other routers or devices on the network.

Router on a Stick provides a cost-effective and scalable solution for inter-VLAN routing by utilizing a
single physical interface on the router. It eliminates the need for multiple router interfaces, simplifies
network management, and allows for flexible VLAN configurations.