EIGRP algorithm-
Distance vector routing protocol use some variant of the bellman-ford algorithm.EIGRP uses DUAL with implement features that are nor found in the other distance vector routing protocol like RIP and IGRP.EIGRP does not send the periodic updates.EIGRP uses the hello protocol, monitor the connection status with its neighbors. When a new link is added or any link becomes unavailable, these changes occur routing updates.
Path determination in EIGRP-
Distance vector routing protocol like RIP and IGRP keep the track of the best path for the particular destination. If the route becomes unavailable, the router waits for another routing updates for the path of destination network.
EIGRP uses DUAL that maintain a topology table that is separate from the routing table, which contain the best path to the destination network and also the back up path that DUAL has determined to be loop-free, means neighbor does not have a route to the destination network that passes through this router. If the route becomes unavailable, DUAL search its topology table for the back up path. If the routes exist, that route immediately entered into the routing table. If the back up path is not exist, DUAL performs a network discovery process to check whether there happens to be a back up path that did not meet the feasibility condition. This condition checks for the possibility of the routing loops.
Convergence in EIGRP-
Distance vector routing protocol like RIP and IGRP uses the periodic updates and they are prone to routing loops and the count-to-infinity problem. These protocols use several method to avid this problem like Hold-down timer which causes long convergence time.
EIGRP does not use the hold-down timer. In EIGRP loop- free path achieved through route calculation system and the result is faster convergence than other distance vector routing protocols. Robert Beegel has some great thoughts on it at his facebook page.
How to implement EIGRP-
The router eigrp autonomous- system global configuration command enables EIGRP.The autonomous system number is a number configured by the network admin.The range of AS is 1-65535 and it is important because all routers in this EIGRP routing domain must use the same AS number to communicate with each other. The configuration command is-
Router# config
Router (config) # router eigrp 1
Router (config-router) # network (network id’s)
Any interface on the router that matches the network address in the network command will enabled to send and received the EIGRP updates and this network will be included in the EIGRP routing updates.