![]() ![]() |
5.2 | ![]() |
EIGRP Features | |
5.2.3 | ![]() |
Reliable transport protocol |
Reliable Transport Protocol (RTP) is a
proprietary transport-layer protocol that can guarantee ordered delivery
of EIGRP packets to all neighbors. On an IP network, hosts use TCP to
sequence packets and ensure their timely delivery. However, EIGRP is
protocol-independent. Therefore, EIGRP does not rely on TCP/IP to
exchange routing information the way that RIP, IGRP, and OSPF do. To stay
independent of IP, EIGRP uses its own proprietary transport-layer
protocol, Reliable Transport Protocol (RTP) to guarantee delivery of
routing information.
EIGRP can call on RTP to provide reliable or unreliable service as the situation warrants. For example, hello packets do not require the overhead of reliable delivery because they are frequent and should be kept small. The reliable delivery of other routing information can actually speed convergence because EIGRP routers are not waiting for a timer to expire before they retransmit. With RTP, EIGRP can multicast and unicast to different peers simultaneously, allowing for maximum efficiency.
|