EIGRP V6 | IPV6 Routing | Hybrid protocol Configuration| Version 6 Routing | Network Zeal

October 31, 2023 Alice AUSTIN

EIGRPv6, or Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol version 6, is an advanced routing protocol designed for IPv6 networks. It is an extension of the classic EIGRP routing protocol, which was originally developed by Cisco for IPv4 networks. EIGRPv6 brings many of the same features and benefits of EIGRP to IPv6 networks.

Here are some key features and characteristics of EIGRPv6:

1. **Cisco Proprietary**: Like its IPv4 counterpart, EIGRPv6 is a proprietary routing protocol developed by Cisco Systems. This means that EIGRPv6 is primarily found in Cisco networking equipment, and it may not be as widely supported in non-Cisco devices.

2. **Hybrid Routing Protocol**: EIGRPv6 is often referred to as a “hybrid” routing protocol because it combines elements of both distance vector and link-state routing protocols. It uses the Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL) to calculate the best path to a destination, and it shares routing updates with neighboring routers only when there are changes in the network topology, reducing unnecessary traffic.

3. **Support for IPv6**: EIGRPv6 is specifically designed to work with IPv6 addresses and routing. It can handle IPv6 routing tables, and it supports the unique characteristics of IPv6, such as the larger address space and hierarchical addressing.

4. **Advanced Metric Calculation**: EIGRPv6 uses a composite metric that takes into account bandwidth, delay, reliability, and load when calculating the best path to a destination. This metric is more sophisticated than the simple hop count used in some other routing protocols.

5. **Route Summarization**: EIGRPv6 supports route summarization, which allows routers to advertise a summarized route instead of individual subnets. This can help reduce the size of routing tables and minimize the amount of routing information exchanged between routers.

6. **Authentication**: EIGRPv6 provides authentication mechanisms to secure routing updates exchanged between routers. This helps prevent unauthorized devices from injecting false routing information into the network.

7. **Fast Convergence**: EIGRPv6 is known for its fast convergence capabilities. It can quickly adapt to changes in the network topology, making it suitable for real-time applications and dynamic network environments.

8. **Loop-Free Routing**: Like its IPv4 counterpart, EIGRPv6 employs the DUAL algorithm to ensure loop-free routing. This algorithm helps prevent routing loops in the network.

9. **VLSM and CIDR Support**: EIGRPv6 supports Variable Length Subnet Masks (VLSM) and Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR), allowing for efficient IP address allocation and subnetting.

It’s important to note that while EIGRPv6 is a powerful routing protocol, its proprietary nature means that it may not be the best choice for environments with a mix of networking equipment from various vendors. In such cases, open standard routing protocols like OSPFv3 or RIPng are often preferred for IPv6 routing.

source

ipv4