How would RIP treat two or three paths to RouterD

[news2010a]

Simple question:

Imagine I have RouterA connected as shown below. Basically there are two equal paths (3 hops) to get to RouterD going from RouterB or RouterC.

In this case, which route RIP would "take". I mean, on OSPF you have load balance capabilities, but in this case how can you determine which path RIP would take to RouterD ?

RouterA ---RouterB+---RouterD

+ +

+-------RouterC+----+ +

[scottmac]

RIP is a straight Distance Vector protocol; it would see both paths as three hops, declare them equal, and (for Cisco) load balance (assuming the same mask length in the case of v2).

Same hops, same mask, same AD ... equal routes = load balance

IGRP (also a Distance Vector protocol - hybrid, but still a DV- ) improved this scenario by including bandwidth and delay metrics to help make a wiser choice of path.

Good Luck

Scott

[ajagadee]

Marlon,

Please refer the below URL for discusses load balancing work on Cisco Routers. This should answer most of your questions.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk365/technologies_tech_note09186a0080094820.shtml

I hope it helps.

Regards,

Arul