Advanced IP Network Design (CCIE Professional Development)

Appendix C. EIGRP Fundamentals

Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) is an advanced distance vector protocol with many advantages:

• Minimal use of network resources in normal operation— EIGRP transmits only small hello packets during normal operation to maintain neighbor relationships; there are no periodic routing updates (flooding of the routing table to neighbors).

• Restricted use of network resources when reacting to network topology changes— EIGRP transmits only information about what has changed and also restricts (paces) the rate at which it sends packets so that it will not overwhelm a link.

• Rapid convergence— EIGRP converges very quickly during topology changes.

• Scalability— Because there are no periodic updates, and there is ...