Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP)

Definition - What does Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) mean?

Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) is a dynamic class routing protocol used by autonomous system routers running on TCP/IP hosts.

IGP overcomes Routing Information Protocol (RIP) network limitations and supports multiple routing metrics, including delay, bandwidth, load and reliability.

Techopedia explains Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP)

Routers use IGP when exchanging Internet Protocol data. A single adjustable formula combines for route comparison and creates IGP metrics.

The two IGP types are:

  • Distance-Vector Routing Protocol (DVRP): Uses the Bellman-Ford algorithm. Three core examples are RIP, Interior Gateway Routing Protocol and Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol.
  • Link State Routing Protocol (LSRP): Each router has access to all network topology data via the routing table. LSRP node transfers are used to construct connectivity maps. Examples include Open Shortest Path First and Intermediate System-to-Intermediate System protocols.

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