Routing Concepts

Routing is the fundamental process that enables

communication across interconnected networks. It involves
the dynamic selection of the optimal path for data to travel
from its source to its destination, ensuring efficient and
reliable data transmission. Routing plays a vital role in the
modern digital landscape, underpinning the seamless
exchange of information that powers our digital world.

by us er privete
The Main Purpose of Routing
1 Efficient Data Delivery 2 Resource Optimization 3 Adaptability
The primary purpose of routing is Routing also aims to optimize the Effective routing systems must be
to ensure that data packets are utilization of network resources, able to adapt to changing network
delivered from the source to the such as bandwidth and processing conditions, such as device failures,
intended destination in the most power, by distributing traffic load network congestion, or changes in
efficient and timely manner across multiple paths and avoiding topology, and dynamically re-route
possible. Routing algorithms network bottlenecks. traffic to maintain reliable and
optimize the path selection to consistent connectivity.
minimize latency, congestion, and
packet loss.
Types of Routing and the Best Approach
4 Types of Routing The Best Approach

The four primary types of routing are: While each routing type has its own strengths and
applications, dynamic routing is generally
1. Static Routing
considered the most effective and widely used
2. Dynamic Routing approach. Dynamic routing protocols, such as OSPF
3. Unicast Routing and BGP, can automatically adapt to network

4. Multicast Routing changes, optimize routing paths, and provide

fault-tolerance, making them well-suited for
modern, complex network environments.
Principles of Routing
1 Scalability 2 Adaptability
Routing systems must be able to Routing protocols must be able to
handle growing network size and dynamically adapt to changes in
traffic demands without significant network topology, link failures,
performance degradation. This is and changes in traffic patterns to
achieved through the use of maintain continuous connectivity
hierarchical routing architectures and optimal performance.
and efficient algorithms.

3 Reliability 4 Efficiency
Routing systems should be Routing algorithms should strive
designed with redundancy and to minimize resource utilization,
fault-tolerance to ensure such as bandwidth, processing
uninterrupted service, even in the power, and memory, while
face of equipment failures or other maximizing throughput and
network disruptions. minimizing latency and packet
loss.
Main Routing Issues
Routing Loop Suboptimal Path Selection
Routing loops occur when a data packet gets trapped in Routing algorithms may sometimes select suboptimal
a circular path, unable to reach its destination. This can paths, leading to increased latency, packet loss, and
lead to excessive bandwidth consumption and network inefficient resource utilization. This can be caused by
congestion. factors like outdated routing information or insufficient
visibility into network conditions.

Security Vulnerabilities Scalability Limitations

Routing protocols can be susceptible to various security As networks grow in size and complexity, the routing
threats, such as route hijacking, denial-of-service system must be able to scale accordingly without
attacks, and man-in-the-middle attacks, which can compromising performance or stability. Poorly
compromise the integrity and availability of the designed routing architectures can lead to scalability
network. issues.
Primary Factors Affecting Routing
Network Topology Traffic Patterns Link Quality

The physical and logical layout The volume, distribution, and The reliability, bandwidth, and
of the network, including the characteristics of network latency of network links are
interconnection of devices, traffic can significantly impact essential considerations in
links, and subnets, plays a the effectiveness of routing routing, as routing algorithms
crucial role in determining decisions, as routing protocols must select paths that meet the
routing paths and algorithm need to adapt to changing traffic required quality of service (QoS)
performance. flows and congestion levels. criteria.
Routing Classification
1 Static vs. Dynamic
Static routing involves manually configuring fixed routing
paths, while dynamic routing protocols automatically adapt
to network changes.

2 Unicast vs. Multicast

Unicast routing is point-to-point communication, while
multicast routing enables one-to-many data transmission.

3 Interior vs. Exterior

Interior routing protocols, such as OSPF and EIGRP, manage
routing within an autonomous system, while exterior routing
protocols, like BGP, handle routing between autonomous
systems.
Routing Characteristics

Speed Reliability
Routing algorithms must be highly Routing systems should be designed
efficient to ensure rapid data delivery, with redundancy and fault-tolerance to
minimizing latency and maintaining ensure uninterrupted service, even in
responsiveness. the face of equipment failures or other
network disruptions.

Scalability Security
Routing protocols must be able to Routing protocols should incorporate
handle growing network size and security features to protect against
traffic demands without significant various threats, such as route hijacking
performance degradation. and denial-of-service attacks.
Factors Influencing Routing

Network Topology Device Capabilities Application User Behavior

Requirements
The physical and logical The processing power, The patterns and
layout of the network, memory, and other The specific quality of preferences of network
including the technical specifications service (QoS) needs of users, such as their
interconnection of of network devices can applications, such as low geographical location,
devices, links, and impact their ability to latency, high bandwidth, device usage, and
subnets, plays a crucial participate in routing or jitter-free delivery, application access, can
role in determining protocols and handle can influence the routing affect the distribution of
routing paths and routing-related tasks. decisions made by network traffic and the
algorithm performance. routing protocols. optimal routing paths.
Routing Functions and Rules
Routing Functions • Packet Forwarding
• Path Selection
• Congestion Control
• Load Balancing
• Addressing and Encapsulation

Routing Rules • Destination-based Forwarding

• Route Preference
• Metric Calculation
• Routing Information Exchange
• Convergence and Stability

The primary functions of routing include packet forwarding, path selection,

congestion control, load balancing, and addressing/encapsulation. Routing
protocols adhere to various rules, such as destination-based forwarding, route
preference, metric calculation, routing information exchange, and ensuring
convergence and stability.