RIP
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Definition
Routing Information Protocol. One of the oldest distance-vector routing protocols, using hop count (max 15) as its metric. Largely superseded by OSPF and EIGRP in enterprise networks due to slow convergence and limited scalability.
The Original Dynamic Routing Protocol
Routing Information Protocol (RIP) is one of the oldest distance-vector routing protocols, first defined in RFC 1058 (1988). RIP determines the best path to a destination based solely on hop count — the number of routersA network device that forwards data packets between different networks by examining destination IP addresses and consulting its routing table. Routers operate at Layer 3 (Network) of the OSI model. a packet must traverse. Its maximum hop count is 15; a destination with 16 hops is considered unreachable. This simplicity made RIP easy to implement but limits it to small, simple networks.
RIPv1 vs. RIPv2
RIPv1 uses broadcast updates and carries no subnet mask information, making it incompatible with CIDRClassless Inter-Domain Routing. A method of allocating IP addresses using variable-length subnet masking (e.g., 10.0.0.0/8) instead of fixed classful boundaries, enabling more efficient use of the IPv4 address space. and VLSMVariable Length Subnet Masking. A subnetting technique that allows different subnets within the same network to use different prefix lengths, enabling more efficient allocation of IP addresses by matching subnet size to actual need.. RIPv2 (RFC 2453) adds multicast updates (224.0.0.9), carries full subnet masks with each route, supports route authentication, and enables summarization. RIPng (RFC 2080) extends the protocol for IPv6 networks. Despite these improvements, RIP's 30-second update timer and slow convergence make it unsuitable for dynamic enterprise environments compared to OSPFOpen Shortest Path First. An interior gateway routing protocol that uses link-state advertisements and Dijkstra's algorithm to compute the shortest path within an autonomous system. or EIGRPEnhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol. A Cisco-developed advanced distance-vector routing protocol that uses a composite metric (bandwidth, delay, reliability, load) and supports rapid convergence through its DUAL algorithm..
Where RIP Survives
RIP is rarely deployed in new networks but persists in legacy environments, small office networks with static topologies, and as a redistribution point between more complex protocols. Its simplicity also makes it useful in lab environments for teaching routing concepts. The routing table populated by RIP carries a default administrative distance of 120 (vs. OSPF's 110), meaning OSPF routes are preferred over RIP routes when both learn the same destination.