Is OSPF better than EIGRP?

Summary:

Both OSPF and EIGRP are interior gateway protocols that converge quickly and have their own advantages. However, EIGRP is faster than OSPF and puts less burden on routers in terms of resource requirements.

Key points covered in this summary:

• EIGRP is faster than OSPF
• EIGRP has lower resource requirements

Questions:

1. Why is OSPF better?
OSPF is better because of its network convergence speed and ability to choose paths based on network performance. It is suitable for corporate LANs and private data centers.

Detailed answer:

Network convergence is the speed at which a router can adjust the path used to a destination network if a network outage occurs. OSPF excels in network convergence and can quickly recalibrate the paths based on performance parameters. This makes it a preferred choice within corporate LANs and private data centers where rapid convergence is essential.

2. Which is faster among OSPF and EIGRP and why?
EIGRP is faster than OSPF in terms of network convergence time as it learns topology information and updates more rapidly. Additionally, EIGRP has better performance in terms of packet delay variation.

Detailed answer:

The network convergence time is faster in EIGRP networks compared to OSPF networks. EIGRP can learn topology information and propagate updates more rapidly, leading to faster convergence. Additionally, EIGRP exhibits better performance in terms of packet delay variation, resulting in smoother data transmission and improved network responsiveness.

3. Why is EIGRP the best routing protocol?
EIGRP stands out as the best routing protocol because of its efficient use of resources and minimal update overhead.

Detailed answer:

EIGRP is widely regarded as the best routing protocol due to its unique characteristics. Unlike many other routing protocols, such as RIP, EIGRP only sends incremental updates, which significantly reduces the workload on routers and minimizes the amount of data that needs to be transmitted. This efficient use of resources makes EIGRP an optimal choice for routing within networks.

4. Why would someone choose EIGRP over OSPF?
EIGRP is often preferred over OSPF due to its faster convergence time and avoidance of network loops through the use of the Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL).

Detailed answer:

One might choose EIGRP over OSPF because of its faster convergence time. EIGRP uses a sophisticated algorithm called the Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL) to calculate the shortest path to a destination, which helps avoid network loops. This capability allows EIGRP to quickly recalculate routes if there is a failure in the network, leading to better network stability and faster recovery times.

5. Is EIGRP outdated?
Yes, EIGRP is considered outdated as it has been superseded by newer routing protocols.

Detailed answer:

EIGRP, which stands for Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol, is an advanced distance vector routing protocol developed by Cisco. It is an evolution of the now-obsolete Cisco protocol called IGRP (Interior Gateway Routing Protocol). While EIGRP was once widely used, it has been replaced by newer routing protocols such as OSPF and BGP in modern network architectures.

6. What are the disadvantages of OSPF?
Some disadvantages of OSPF include its complexity and lack of scalability for larger networks.

Detailed answer:

The OSPF protocol requires advanced knowledge about complex networks, making it more challenging to learn compared to some other routing protocols. Additionally, OSPF routing does not scale well when more routers are added to the network. This lack of scalability makes OSPF unsuitable for routing across the Internet or in networks with a large number of routers.

7. Why do companies use OSPF?
Companies use OSPF because it allows routers to calculate routes based on specific criteria using complete knowledge of topology.

Detailed answer:

One of the main advantages of using a link state routing protocol like OSPF is that routers have complete knowledge of the network’s topology. This allows routers to calculate routes that meet specific criteria, making it useful for traffic engineering purposes where routes need to be constrained to meet particular quality of service requirements. This level of control over routing decisions is advantageous for companies with complex network architectures.

8. What are the disadvantages of EIGRP?
Some disadvantages of EIGRP include its reliance on neighbors for routes and lack of support for future applications.

Detailed answer:

EIGRP is a distance vector routing protocol that relies on routes provided by neighboring routers. This reliance on neighbors for routes can limit its scalability and adaptability compared to other routing protocols. Additionally, EIGRP is not extensible and does not have support for future applications, which can affect its long-term suitability in evolving network environments.

9. Why is OSPF popular?
The popularity of OSPF stems from its ability to calculate routes based on complete knowledge of network topology, allowing for better traffic engineering.

Detailed answer:

OSPF’s popularity is primarily driven by its link state routing approach, which provides routers with complete knowledge of the network’s topology. This comprehensive understanding enables routers to calculate routes that satisfy specific criteria, making it valuable for traffic engineering purposes. The ability to fine-tune routing decisions to meet quality of service requirements has contributed to OSPF’s wide adoption in enterprise networks.

10. Why do we use OSPF instead of EIGRP?
OSPF is often chosen over EIGRP due to its superior scalability and vendor independence.

Detailed answer:

The scalability of OSPF surpasses EIGRP as OSPF is vendor-independent and simpler to implement. In contrast, EIGRP is a more complex and vendor-specific protocol, which poses challenges when migrating from one vendor to another. By opting for OSPF, network administrators can achieve greater flexibility in their network designs and avoid vendor lock-in.