Routing protocols

RIP/RIP2 (Routing Information Protocol/RIP Version 2)

You can use RIP/RIP2 to dynamically exchange route information. The number of hops (the number of routers that the information is passed through before it reaches the target network) is used as an index for selecting the optimum route information.

RIP2 is an expanded version of RIP that has added support for VLSM, etc.

OSPF (Open Shortest Path First)

You can use OSPF to dynamically exchange route information. The cost value (the numerical representation of the network bandwidth that is traversed to reach the target network) is used as an index for selecting the optimum route information.

BGP4 (Border Gateway Protocol version 4)

You can use BGP4 to dynamically exchange route information. BGP4 is primarily used in cases where high reliability is required, such as when providers exchange route information. BGP4 enables you to precisely control how the route that is used is chosen from the received route information.

RIPng (RIP next generation)

This is a version of RIP that supports IPv6. RIPng is fundamentally the same as RIP2.