Compatible Systems 5.4 - Manual (Page 46)

40 Chapter 2 - IP Routing & Bridging
ically broadcast routing information packets. These RIP 1 packets contain
information concerning the networks that the routers and gateways can reach
as well as the number of routers/gateways that a packet must travel through
to reach the receiving address.
RIP 2 is an enhancement of RIP 1 which allows IP subnet information to be
shared among routers, and provides for authentication of routing updates.
When this protocol is chosen, the router will use the multicast address
224.0.0.9 to send and/or receive RIP 2 packets for this Bridge Group’s
member interfaces. As with RIP 1, the router’s routing table will be periodi-
cally updated with information received in these packets.
RIP 2 is more useful in a variety of environments and allows the use of vari-
able subnet masks on your network. It is also necessary for implementation
of “classless” addressing as accomplished with CIDR (Classless Inter
Domain Routing).
It is recommended that RIP 2 be used on any logical network segment,
including multiple physical segments which are part of a logical IP Bridge
Group, where all routers can use the same IP routing protocol. If one or more
routers on a segment must use RIP 1, then all other routers on that segment
should also be set to use RIP 1.
• If RIP 2 is selected with this pull-down menu, the router will send and/or
accept RIP 2 packets via this Bridge Group’s member interfaces, and will
then periodically update its routing table with the information provided
from these packets. On a large network, an up-to-date routing table will
enhance network performance since the router will always be aware of
the optimal path to use when sending packets.
• If RIP 1 is selected with this pull-down menu, the router will send and/or
accept RIP 1 packets, and will then periodically update its routing table
with the information provided from these packets.
• If None is selected with this pull-down menu, the router will not be able
to update its routing table and will always direct traffic for addresses it
does not have a route for (addresses not on one of the networks connected
to its interfaces) to the “default router” defined in its IP Static Route
Dialog Box. It will then be the responsibility of the default router to
direct the packets to the correct address. For information on setting the
default router see the discussion of the IP Static Route Dialog Box later
in this chapter.
v Note: Some routers, in particular those designed to create very large
corporate backbones, may use other routing protocols such as OSPF (Open
Shortest Path First). These routers can simultaneously use RIP 1 (and in
some cases RIP 2) to communicate with smaller routers, or each of the