Intradomain and Interdomain Routing
What is Intradomain Routing?
Intradomain routing, also known as Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) routing, is the process of exchanging routing information and determining the best path for data within a single autonomous system (AS) in a computer network. An autonomous system is a network that is under a single administrative domain and can range in size from a small corporate network to a large service provider network.
Intradomain routing protocols are used to share routing information between the routers within the same AS, allowing them to build a routing table that contains information about the network topology and the best path for data to reach its destination. The most common intradomain routing protocols are Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) and Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS), although other protocols like Routing Information Protocol (RIP) and Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) are also used.
OSPF and IS-IS are link-state protocols that allow routers to exchange detailed information about the network topology, including the status of each link, the network address of each router, and the cost of each link. This information is used to build a complete and accurate map of the network, which enables each router to calculate the shortest path to each destination. In contrast, distance-vector protocols like RIP and EIGRP rely on the hop count to calculate the best path, which can result in less efficient routing and slower convergence times.
Intradomain routing is important because it enables efficient communication within a single AS, allowing data to be delivered quickly and reliably to its destination. By exchanging routing information and building a complete network map, intradomain routing protocols ensure that each router is aware of the current state of the network and can make informed routing decisions based on that information
What is Interdomain Routing?
Interdomain routing, also known as Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP) routing, is the process of exchanging routing information and determining the best path for data between different autonomous systems (ASes) in a computer network. An autonomous system is a network that is under a single administrative domain and is identified by a unique Autonomous System Number (ASN).
Interdomain routing protocols are used to share routing information between different ASes, allowing them to build a routing table that contains information about the network topology and the best path for data to reach its destination. The most commonly used interdomain routing protocol is the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), which is the protocol used by internet service providers (ISPs) to connect their networks together.
BGP is a path-vector protocol that allows routers to exchange information about the paths and policies used to reach different network prefixes. BGP routers advertise the prefixes that they can reach and the number of ASes that they have to cross to reach them, as well as any policy restrictions or preferences that should be taken into account. By exchanging this information, BGP routers can build a complete picture of the interdomain network topology and determine the best path for data to reach its destination.
Interdomain routing is important because it enables data to be delivered between different ASes, allowing users to communicate with people and services located in other parts of the internet. By exchanging routing information and building a complete interdomain network map, interdomain routing protocols ensure that each router is aware of the best path to reach different destinations and can make informed routing decisions based on that information. This allows data to be delivered quickly and reliably between different parts of the internet.
Difference between Intradomain and Interdomain Routing
The main difference between Intradomain (or Interior Gateway Protocol) routing and Interdomain (or Exterior Gateway Protocol) routing is the scope of the routing domain. Intradomain routing operates within a single autonomous system (AS), while interdomain routing operates between different ASes.
Here are some of the key differences between Intradomain and Interdomain routing:
- Routing domain: Intradomain routing operates within a single AS, while Interdomain routing operates between different ASes.
- Protocol used: Intradomain routing protocols such as OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) and IS-IS (Intermediate System to Intermediate System) are used to exchange routing information within a single AS, while Interdomain routing protocols such as BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) are used to exchange routing information between different ASes.
- Routing information: Intradomain routing protocols exchange detailed information about the network topology within a single AS, while Interdomain routing protocols exchange information about the path and policies used to reach different network prefixes between different ASes.
- Convergence time: Intradomain routing protocols generally have faster convergence times than Interdomain routing protocols. This is because Intradomain routing protocols operate within a single AS and do not need to take into account the policies and preferences of other ASes.
- Importance: Intradomain routing is important for efficient communication within a single AS, while Interdomain routing is important for enabling data to be delivered between different ASes and allowing users to communicate with people and services located in other parts of the internet.