What is EGP? – Description and types of Exterior Gateway Protocol
EGP, short for Exterior Gateway Protocol, is a routing protocol that is used to exchange routing information between different autonomous systems (AS) on the Internet. An autonomous system is a network or group of networks under a single administrative authority and is designated by a unique AS number.
EGP is an older routing protocol that was developed before the introduction of more advanced protocols such as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). It is classified as a distance-vector protocol, meaning that it determines the best path for data packets based on distance metrics and the cost associated with each path.
The primary purpose of EGP is to enable the interconnections between different ASs and provide routing information to ensure that data packets are delivered accurately and efficiently across the Internet. It facilitates the exchange of network reachability information between ASs, allowing them to exchange routing information and make decisions about the best path for data transmission.
There are different types of EGP, each designed for specific purposes and compatible with different network configurations. The two main types are:
1. EGP (Exterior Gateway Protocol): The original version of EGP that was standardized in 1982 as the first standardized inter-domain routing protocol. EGP is a relatively simple protocol that focuses on establishing and maintaining adjacencies between neighboring ASs to exchange network reachability information.
2. EGP-3 (Exterior Gateway Protocol – Version 3): An enhanced version of EGP that was introduced in 1992 to provide additional features and improvements over the original version. EGP-3 introduced extensions to support more efficient routing updates and improved convergence times, making it more suitable for larger networks with complex routing requirements.
It’s worth noting that EGP is an outdated protocol and has been largely replaced by the more advanced Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) in modern network environments. BGP offers increased scalability, flexibility, and improved routing policies, making it the protocol of choice for inter-domain routing on the Internet today.
In conclusion, EGP, or Exterior Gateway Protocol, is a routing protocol used for exchanging routing information between autonomous systems on the Internet. It plays a crucial role in facilitating the interconnections between ASs and ensuring efficient data packet routing. While EGP is an older protocol, it paved the way for more advanced protocols like BGP, which are widely used in contemporary network environments.
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