Difference between Routing and Routed Protocols

Last Modified: January 29, 2024

Table of Contents

Introduction

Routing and routed protocols are two critical principles in computer networking that confuse many students. Both are associated with the network layer of the OSI model, which is responsible for offering logical addressing and routing packets across different networks. Both have specific features and traits. In this blog, we will explain routing protocol vs routed protocol in detail as well, and we will try to understand both separately, along with examples.

Before getting into more details, let’s first understand routing and routed protocols.

What are Routing Protocols?

A routing protocol is a set of policies or algorithms routers use to exchange information about the networks they are connected to. This information helps routers decide the best route to transmit packets to their destination. Routing protocols function on the network layer of the OSI reference model and use route update packets to communicate with each other.

Routers run various routing protocols to exchange updates and assist in finding the best paths to a destination in a network. When a new network is added, routing protocols can learn about it and recognize when a network is unavailable.

We now have a basic understanding of what routing protocols really are. Let’s move on to the types of routing protocols.

Types of Routing Protocols

Mainly, there are two types of routing protocols. These are:

Static Routing

In static routing, the routes are manually configured by means of the network administrator and do not change based on network conditions. This type of routing is simple, stable, and rapid, but it isn’t scalable or adaptable to network modifications. Static routing is best suited for small networks with a fixed topology.

Dynamic Routing

In dynamic routing, the routes are automatically updated based on modifications inside the network topology or metrics, including hop count number, bandwidth, delay, and so on. This sort of routing is complex and efficient, but it consumes greater resources and bandwidth. Dynamic routing is best suited for big, complicated networks with a variable topology.

Let’s now discuss the examples of routing protocols for better understanding.

Examples of Routing Protocols

Below, we have discussed various examples of routing protocols with their characteristics.

RIP: Routing Information Protocol is a distance vector IGP that uses hop count as its metric. It is one of the oldest and is also known to be the simplest routing protocol. Still, it has many limitations, which include a maximum hop count of 15, slow convergence, and high bandwidth consumption.
EIGRP: Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol is a distance vector IGP that uses a composite metric based totally on bandwidth, delay, reliability, load, and MTU. It is a Cisco proprietary protocol that improves upon RIP with the aid of the usage of capabilities that include partial updates, triggered updates, hello packets, and a DUAL set of rules or algorithms.
OSPF: Open Shortest Path First is a link state IGP that makes use of cost as its metric. It is an open standard protocol that uses functions including areas, LSAs, SPF rules or algorithms, DR/BDR election, and authentication. It has fast convergence, low bandwidth intake, and high scalability.
BGP: Border Gateway Protocol is a path vector EGP that uses attributes that include AS path, next hop, MED, origin, and community to pick the best routes. It is an open standard protocol that is used to change routing information among ASes on the Internet. It has slow convergence, high CPU intake, and complex configuration.
IS-IS: Intermediate System to Intermediate System is a link state IGP/EGP that uses cost as its metric. It is an ISO standard protocol that makes use of features such as areas, LSPs, SPF set of rules, DIS election, and authentication. It has fast convergence, low bandwidth consumption, and high scalability.

We now have a detailed understanding of routing protocols and their types and examples. Let’s discuss the advantages and disadvantages of routing protocols.

Advantages of Routing Protocols

Some of the advantages of routing protocols are:

They make it possible for routers to automatically and dynamically learn about distant networks.
By locating alternative channels, they let routers adjust to network changes and outages.
By choosing the optimum path based on multiple variables, they enhance network performance.
By doing away with manual route setting, they lower administrative burden.

Disadvantages of Routing Protocols

Some of the disadvantages of routing protocols are:

Routing protocols can lead to routing loops and sometimes inconsistency if not configured properly.
Complexity and security issues in the network design are some of the drawbacks that routing protocols can generate.
Sometimes, compatibility issues arise because different versions of routing protocols are used for different purposes.

We have explained the routing protocol in detail; let’s now understand the routed protocols.

What are Routed Protocols?

A routed protocol is a protocol that includes the process of carrying user information or data from one host to any other throughout the network. It operates on the network layer of the OSI model and offers logical addressing and encapsulation to the data packets. A routed protocol relies upon a routing protocol to find the best route to its destination.

Routed protocols make use of a technique for addressing that may address a specific network and a host within that network.

Let’s see some of the examples of routed protocol.

Examples of Routed Protocols

Below, we have discussed some examples of routed protocols with their characteristics.

IP: Internet Protocol is the most extensively used routed protocol. It has versions: IPv4, which uses 32-bit addresses, and IPv6, which uses 128-bit addresses.
IPX: Internetwork Packet Exchange is a routed protocol that is used in Novell NetWare networks. It utilizes 80-bit addresses that include a 32-bit network number and a 48-bit host number. IPX gives connectionless, dependable, and sequenced delivery of data packets.
AppleTalk: AppleTalk is a routed protocol that was utilized in Apple Macintosh networks. It makes use of 24-bit addresses that include a 16-bit network number and an 8-bit node number. AppleTalk offers connection-oriented, dependable, and sequenced transmission of data packets.

Advantages of Routed Protocols

Here are some advantages of routed protocols –

Routed protocols provide for end-to-end communication between devices on a network, regardless of the network architecture.
By enabling communication between devices using various network protocols, routed protocols help devices and network types function together.
Routed protocols increase data delivery reliability by incorporating error checking and correction techniques to ensure that data is transported correctly.
The addressing methods provided by routed protocols enable devices to recognise and communicate with one another over a network.

We now have an understanding of what routing and routed protocols are. Let’s move on and discuss the difference between routing and routed protocols.

Difference between Routing and Routed Protocol

Below, we have compared Routing Protocol vs Routed Protocol in a tabular form to explain the difference between the two.

Factors	Routing Protocol	Routed Protocol
Purpose	To determine the best routes for data packets	To carry data packets between end devices
Addressing	Use logical addresses (such as IP addresses) to identify networks	Provide logical addresses (such as IP addresses) to identify end devices
Operation	Operate at the network layer of the OSI model	Operate at the network layer or higher layers of the OSI model
Types	It can be static or dynamic	Can be routable or non-routable
Example	RIP, EIGRP, OSPF, BGP, etc.	IP, IPX, AppleTalk, etc.
Hardware/Software	Implemented in network devices, primarily routers.	Typically implemented in end systems or hosts (e.g., computers, servers).
Scalability	The choice of routing protocol can impact network scalability and routing efficiency.	The scale of the network is mostly independent of the routed protocol in use.

These are the main differences between Routing and Routed Protocols. In summary, routed protocols deal with the content and structure of data packets, while routing protocols deal with the rules and algorithms that routers use to decide how to forward these data packets from one network segment to another. Routing protocols ensure that data packets from one network can traverse multiple networks to reach their destination by determining the most efficient path.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is routing protocol and routable protocol?

Routing protocols are simply the algorithms used by the router in order to communicate with each other by sharing information about the best route to the destination. In comparison, a routable protocol is a network protocol that can be routed between networks within an internetwork in order to route the packets.

Q2. What are the 3 types of routing protocols?

The three types of routing protocols are:

Distance Vector Routing Protocol
Link-State Routing Protocol
Advanced Distance Vector Routing Protocol

Q3. What is meant by routed protocol?

A routed protocol is a type of network protocol that can be sent over a router. It has an address field that specifies the destination of the packet. Examples are IP, IPv6, and AppleTalk.

Q4. Is OSPF a routed protocol?

OSPF is a link-state routing protocol that is based on SPF, i.e., shortest path first algorithm.

Conclusion

Both routing and routed protocols play a crucial role in network communication. In this blog, we have discussed the basic differences between the two, along with their types and examples. To understand the limitations and their scope of use, we also have discussed their advantages and disadvantages.