Distance vector routing (RIP) in Computer Networks - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

How does RIP determine the best route?

In the Routing Information Protocol (RIP), how is the best route to a destination chosen?

A By selecting the route with the fewest hops to the destination

B By choosing the route with the highest bandwidth available

C By selecting the route with the lowest delay time

D By choosing the route with the least number of routers in the network

💡 Hint

Think about what metric RIP uses to measure distance.

RIP uses hop count as its metric. The best route is the one with the fewest hops to the destination.

📋 Factual

intermediate

Maximum hop count in RIP

What is the maximum hop count allowed in RIP before a route is considered unreachable?

A 30 hops

B 10 hops

C 255 hops

D 15 hops

💡 Hint

RIP limits the maximum hop count to prevent routing loops.

RIP defines 15 hops as the maximum distance; anything beyond is unreachable.

🔍 Analysis

advanced

Effect of a link failure in RIP

When a link fails in a RIP network, what mechanism helps prevent routing loops during convergence?

A Distance vector with link-state updates

B Route aggregation

C Split horizon with poison reverse

D Shortest path first algorithm

💡 Hint

Consider how RIP avoids sending routing information back to the source.

Split horizon with poison reverse prevents routing loops by not advertising a route back on the interface it was learned from, marking failed routes with infinite metric.

❓ Comparison

advanced

Difference between RIP and link-state routing

Which of the following correctly contrasts RIP with link-state routing protocols?

A RIP uses hop count as metric and periodic updates; link-state uses a complete map and event-driven updates

B RIP uses bandwidth as metric; link-state uses hop count

C RIP converges faster than link-state protocols

D RIP builds a full network map; link-state only knows neighbors

💡 Hint

Think about how each protocol gathers and shares routing information.

RIP uses hop count and sends updates periodically. Link-state protocols build a full network map and send updates when changes occur.

❓ Reasoning

expert

Why does RIP limit maximum hop count to 15?

Why does the Routing Information Protocol (RIP) set the maximum hop count to 15 instead of a higher number?

A Because routers cannot process more than 15 hops due to hardware limits

B To prevent routing loops by limiting the network size

C To ensure faster convergence by ignoring longer routes

D Because IP addresses are limited to 15 hops in the protocol

💡 Hint

Consider how limiting hop count affects network stability.

Limiting hop count to 15 prevents routing loops and limits the size of networks RIP can support, improving stability.