EIGRP for IPv6 Networks Network Bulls India's Best Cisco Training Institute in Gurgaon

Network Bulls
www.networkbulls.com
Best Institute for CCNA CCNP CCSP CCIP CCIE Training in India
M-44, Old Dlf, Sector-14 Gurgaon, Haryana, India
Call: +91-9654672192

Cisco has developed EIGRP support for IPv6 networks to route IPv6 prefixes. EIGRP for IPv6 is configured and managed separately from EIGRP for IPv4; no network statements are used. EIGRP for IPv6 retains all the same characteristics (network discovery, DUAL, modules) and functions as EIGRP for IPv4. The major themes with EIGRP for IPv6 are as follows:

• Implements the protocol-independent modules.
• Does EIGRP neighbor discovery and recovery.
• Uses reliable transport.
• Implements the DUAL algorithm for a loop-free topology.
• Uses the same metrics as EIGRP for IPv4 networks.
• Has the same timers as EIGRP for IPv4.
• Uses same concepts of feasible successors and feasible distance as EIGRP for IPv4.
• Uses the same packet types as EIGRP for IPv4.
• Managed and configured separately from EIGRP for IPv4.
• Requires a router ID before it can start running.
• Configured on interfaces. No network statements are used.

The difference is the use of IPv6 prefixes and the use of IPv6 multicast group FF02::A for EIGRP updates. Because EIGRP for IPv6 uses the same characteristics and functions as EIGRP for IPv4 covered in the previous section on EIGRP, they are not repeated here.

EIGRP for IPv6 Design

Use EIGRP for IPv6 in large geographic IPv6 networks. EIGRP's diameter can scale up to 255 hops, but this network diameter is not recommended. EIGRP authentication can be used instead of IPv6 authentication.

EIGRP for IPv6 can be used in the site-to-site WAN and IPsec VPNs. In the enterprise campus, EIGRP can be used in data centers, server distribution, building distribution, and the network core.

EIGRP's DUAL algorithm provides for fast convergence and routing loop prevention. EIGRP does not broadcast its routing table periodically, so there is no large network overhead. The only constraint is that EIGRP for IPv6 is restricted to Cisco routers.

EIGRP for IPv6 Summary

The characteristics of EIGRP for IPv6 are as follows:

• Uses the same characteristics and functions as EIGRP for IPv4.
• Hybrid routing protocol (a distance-vector protocol that has link-state protocol characteristics).
• Uses Next Header protocol 88.
• Routes IPv6 prefixes.
• Default composite metric uses bandwidth and delay.
• You can factor load and reliability into the metric.
• Sends partial route updates only when there are changes.
• Supports EIGRP MD5 authentication.
• Uses DUAL for loop prevention and fast convergence.
• By default, equal-cost load balancing. Unequal-cost load balancing with the variance command.
• Administrative distance is 90 for EIGRP internal routes, 170 for EIGRP external routes, and 5 for EIGRP summary routes.
• Uses IPv6 multicast FF02::A for EIGRP updates.
• High scalability; used in large networks.