In the real world, and especially in larger environments, companies usually rely on dynamic routing protocols to keep routing tables updated. Quite simply, it is easier to configure all routers to use a dynamic routing protocol and have them learn about unconnected networks from other routers, rather than statically defining a route to each and every network on every router. Dynamic routing protocols also provide a degree of fault tolerance. If a network or router fails on a network using dynamic routing protocols, other routers will find out about it, either through updates from neighboring routers, or via the absence of updates messages. In contrast, with only static routes defined, neighboring routers do not exchange information. When a network or router fails in a static routing environment, other routers do nothing to compensate for the failure.
Certainly dynamic routing protocols have their advantages, but they also have drawbacks. For one, the update messages that are passed between routers running dynamic routing protocols add traffic to the network. Secondly, some routing protocols also increase resource usage on the router, since they calculate the best route to a network from updates received. Finally, it takes time for routers to find out about a network that is unavailable, and for all routers to have consistent routing table information. Once all routers have knowledge of all available networks, the network is referred to as being converged.
Not all routing protocols are equal in these respects. Some converge faster, but use up more of a router’s processing resources. Others go easy on resource usage, but cause more network traffic. Some make routing decisions based on very basic information, while others take into account a variety of factors. Using a routing protocol almost always involves some type of tradeoff, and deciding which works “best” will largely depend on the characteristics of the network you are dealing with. Routing protocols generally fall into two main categories – distance vector and link state.
