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Difference between IGRP and EIGRP
The distance-vector routing protocols IGRP (Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) and EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) are both used in computer networks.
IGRP is a proprietary protocol that was widely used in enterprise networks until it was replaced by modern protocols such as EIGRP and OSPF. EIGRP is a powerful and efficient routing system that is commonly used in business networks.
Read this article to find out more about IGRP and EIGRP and how they are different from each other.
What is IGRP?
IGRP, or Interior Gateway Routing Technology, is a distance-vector routing technology developed in the 1980s by Cisco Systems. It is a proprietary protocol that was widely used in enterprise networks until it was replaced by modern protocols such as EIGRP and OSPF.
IGRP communicates with neighbouring routers by exchanging routing information. Each router has a routing table that provides information about the best route to each destination network based on a metric that considers the path's bandwidth and delay.
IGRP uses a routing update method known as "triggered updates" to inform neighbouring routers of changes in network topology. When a change occurs, such as a connection failure or the establishment of a new network, the affected router rapidly sends an update to its neighbours, who then update their routing tables accordingly. IGRP also sends regular updates to ensure that all routers have the most up-to-date routing information.
IGRP has the limitation of not supporting variable length subnet masks (VLSM) or classless inter-domain routing (CIDR), which makes it less flexible than modern routing protocols. Another disadvantage is that it has a slower convergence time than newer protocols such as EIGRP and OSPF, which use more advanced algorithms to determine the best path to a destination.
IGRP, despite its disadvantages, was widely used in the past and helped provide the foundation for modern routing protocols. For backward compatibility reasons, it is still supported on some Cisco devices; however, it is not recommended for new network deployments.
What is EIGRP?
EIGRP, or Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol, is a distance-vector routing protocol created by Cisco Systems to improve over IGRP. It is a powerful and efficient routing system that is commonly used in business networks.
EIGRP communicates with neighboring routers by exchanging routing information. Each router has a routing table with information on the best path to each destination network.
EIGRP uses a routing update method known as "diffusing updates" to inform neighboring routers of network topology changes. When a change occurs, such as a connection failure or the establishment of a new network, the affected router quickly sends an update to its neighbors, who then update their routing tables accordingly. EIGRP can converge quickly since it only provides updates for the affected routes, as opposed to IGRP, which sends periodic updates for all routes.
EIGRP is more flexible than IGRP since it allows variable-length subnet masks (VLSM) and classless inter-domain routing (CIDR). It also supports a variety of network topologies, such as hierarchical designs, mesh networks, and point-to- point networks. EIGRP further supports load balancing, which allows traffic to be distributed across numerous channels for better efficiency and redundancy.
Difference between IGRP and EIGRP
The following table highlights the major differences between IGRP and EIGRP −
Characteristics |
IGRP |
EIGRP |
|---|---|---|
Convergence time |
Slow |
Fast |
Administrative distance |
100 |
Internal: 90; External: 170 |
Maximum hop count |
100 |
224 |
Route summarization |
Classful |
Classless |
Support for VLSM and CIDR |
No |
Yes |
Supports multiple network layer protocols |
No |
Yes |
Triggered updates |
No |
Yes |
Neighbor discovery and maintenance |
Broadcast-based |
Multicast-based |
Scalability |
Limited |
High |
Compatibility with Cisco devices |
Yes |
Yes |
Full Form |
Interior Gateway Routing Technology (IGRP) |
Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) |
Conclusion
In conclusion, both IGRP and EIGRP are distance-vector routing protocols that are used in computer networks. However, due to its faster convergence time, more precise metric calculation, support for VLSM and CIDR, and open standard protocol type, EIGRP is a more advanced and efficient protocol than IGRP.
The diffusing update algorithm (DUAL) used by EIGRP allows it to identify and respond to network changes quickly, whereas IGRP's reliance on periodic updates results in a slower convergence time.
Overall, due to its greater features and capabilities, EIGRP is the preferred protocol for modern networks.
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