Routing vs Routed Protocols in Computer Networks

Routing is an essential component in computer networking, as it ensures data gets from its source to the right place. Routing and Routed protocols are the sub-concepts in routing.

Routing protocols are the protocols that determine the path for data travel, and routed protocols, on the other hand, carry that data across networks. Routed protocols and routing protocols work together to facilitate data communication over the Internet.

In this article, we have explained the difference between routing and routed protocols by covering their features, examples, and working. We have explained both terms in detail and then differentiated between them on 10 different aspects.

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What Are Routing Protocols?

Routing protocols are a collection of guidelines or techniques that routers use to exchange data about networks they are linked to. Routers use these routing protocols to determine the most effective way to forward packets to their destinations. These protocols, which function at the network layer of the OSI model, communicate and keep up-to-date routing tables via route update messages.

When the network topology changes, routers update one another dynamically using various routing protocols. These protocols guarantee that routers promptly adjust to changes, such as the introduction of a new route or the unavailability of a network.

Features of Routing Protocols

● Calculates the best route for packet forwarding.

● Continuously exchange routing information with neighbouring routers.

● Quickly adapt to network topology changes.

● Incorporates mechanisms to prevent routing loops.

● Can be implemented in both small and large networks.

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Common Examples of Routing Protocols

The common examples are:

Types of Routing Protocols

These protocols are generally divided into three major categories based on how they operate and share routing information: Distance Vector, Link-State, and Hybrid routing protocols.

1. Distance Vector Routing Protocols

Distance vector protocols determine routes based on the number of hops to the destination, with each router routinely sharing its full routing table with directly connected neighbors. This approach is straightforward to implement but tends to converge slowly and is prone to routing loops, which are controlled using methods like split horizon and hold-down timers. Common examples include RIP, which limits paths to 15 hops, and IGRP, a Cisco protocol that factors in metrics like bandwidth and delay.

2. Link-State Routing Protocols

Link-state protocols offer a more intelligent routing method by giving routers a detailed view of the entire network. Instead of sending full routing tables, routers share information about their links using link-state advertisements (LSAs). With this data, each router independently calculates optimal paths using Dijkstra’s algorithm. While they require more processing and memory, these protocols provide faster convergence and greater accuracy. Notable examples include OSPF and IS-IS.

3. Hybrid Routing Protocols

Hybrid protocols blend the best of distance vector and link-state approaches. They use efficient route discovery methods while also ensuring quicker convergence and robust route management. These protocols typically support advanced features like classless addressing, route summarization, and authentication. EIGRP exemplifies this category with its DUAL algorithm, optimizing multiple metrics, while BGP, though officially a path vector protocol, is often considered hybrid due to its policy-based route selection and flexible attributes.

Read our detailed article on Different types of routing protocols

Advantages of Routing Protocols

● Routing protocols automate route discovery, adapt to network changes, and improve overall network efficiency and reliability.

● Support failover and redundancy for high availability

● Optimize network traffic by selecting efficient paths

● Enhance scalability for growing networks

● Offers more security

Disadvantages of Routing Protocols

● They can be complex to configure, consume resources, and may cause routing issues if misconfigured.

● Can consume significant bandwidth and CPU resources due to frequent updates

● Complexity in configuration and troubleshooting, especially in large networks

● Potential for routing loops or inconsistencies if misconfigured

● Compatibility issues may arise between different routing protocols or versions

What Are Routed Protocols?

Routed protocols are actual network protocols used to transport user data, such as files, web pages, and emails, across a network. They operate at the network layer, providing logical addressing and encapsulation to ensure end-to-end data delivery between devices.

Routed protocols rely on routing protocols to find the path for moving data. They implement addressing schemes that help identify both the network and individual devices (hosts), enabling successful communication across interconnected networks.

Features of Routed Protocols

Routed protocols are capable of handling varying data sizes across diverse networks.

● Uses IP addressing or similar addressing schemes to uniquely identify devices.

● Encapsulates data and sends it across the network.

● Enables communication across different networks.

● Can function across different types of routing protocols.

Common Examples of Routed Protocols

Here are a few well-known routed protocols:

Advantages of Routed Protocols

● They operate independently of the underlying physical network infrastructure

● Facilitate seamless communication across multiple networks and protocols

● Support a wide range of applications and services

● Increase reliability with built-in error detection and correction mechanisms

● Allow flexible addressing to accommodate large and diverse networks

Disadvantages of Routed Protocol

● Security risks if packet integrity and confidentiality are not maintained.

● Depending on routing protocols for path determination, inefficient routing affects delivery.

● Some routed protocols may be legacy and less efficient compared to modern alternatives.

● Packet overhead can impact bandwidth utilization.

● May require complex addressing schemes in large networks.

Difference Between Routing and Routed Protocols

Here are 10 differences between routed and routing protocols:

How Routing and Routed Protocols Work Together?

Routing and routed protocols work together to enable smooth data transmission across networks. Routing protocols like OSPF or BGP help routers find the best path by sharing route information. Routed protocols like IP then handle the actual delivery of data using logical addresses.

For example, if a user in New York wants to access a website in London, the IP protocol creates a data packet with the server’s IP address. A routing protocol like BGP helps the router choose the best path through the Internet. Once selected, IP carries the packet step by step until it reaches the London server.

In short, routing protocols choose the path, and routed protocols move the data along it.

Conclusion

Understanding the distinction between routing and routed protocols is fundamental for anyone involved in computer networking. Routing protocols handle the logic and intelligence required to discover paths, while routed protocols are responsible for the actual transportation of data packets.

Together, they form the backbone of modern networking, ensuring that data not only finds a path but also reaches its destination accurately and efficiently.

Whether configuring a simple home router or architecting a global enterprise network, mastering these protocols will lead to better performance, reliability, and control over network communication.