RIP v2 is a dynamic routing protocol that is configured by naming the routing protocol RIP Version 2, and then assigning IP network numbers without specifying subnet values. This section describes the basic commands used to configure RIP v2 on a Cisco router.

To enable a dynamic routing protocol, the following tasks must be completed:

• Select a routing protocol, such as RIP v2.
• Assign the IP network numbers without specifying the subnet values.
• Assign the network or subnet addresses and the appropriate subnet mask to the interfaces.

RIP v2 uses multicasts to communicate with other routers. The routing metric helps the routers find the best path to each network or subnet.

The router command starts the routing process. The network command causes the implementation of the following three functions:

• The routing updates are multicast out an interface.
• The routing updates are processed if they enter that same interface.
• The subnet that is directly connected to that interface is advertised.

The network command is required because it allows the routing process to determine which interfaces will participate in the sending and receiving of routing updates. The network command starts up the routing protocol on all interfaces that the router has in the specified network. The network command also allows the router to advertise that network.

The router rip version 2 command specifies RIP v2 as the routing protocol, while the network command identifies a participating attached network.

In this example, the configuration of Router A includes the following:

• router rip version 2 – Selects RIP v2 as the routing protocol.
• network 172.16.0.0 – Specifies a directly connected network.
• network 10.0.0.0 – Specifies a directly connected network.

The interfaces on Router A connected to networks 172.16.0.0 and 10.0.0.0, or their subnets, will send and receive RIP v2 updates. These routing updates allow the router to learn the network topology. Routers B and C have similar RIP configurations but with different network numbers specified.

Figure shows another example of a RIP v2 configuration.

Lab Activity Lab Exercise: Converting RIP v1 to RIP v2 In this lab, the students will configure RIP v1 on the routers and then convert to RIP v2.

   

Lab Activity e-Lab Activity: Converting RIP v1 to RIP v2 In this lab, the student will configure RIP v1 and then convert to RIP v2.