CCNA DAY 38: EIGRP Configuration | How to configure EIGRP Routing Protocol in Cisco Packet Tracer

Summary

This tutorial demonstrates how to configure the EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) on Cisco routers, focusing on the steps needed to enable dynamic routing. It explains the process of configuring IP addresses on router interfaces and host devices, setting up EIGRP with an autonomous system number, and advertising directly connected networks. The video also emphasizes verifying the configuration by testing communication between devices. The guide is straightforward and ideal for those new to routing protocols, with a preview of future topics like OSPF and BGP configurations.

Takeaways

• 😀 EIGRP stands for Extended Interior Gateway Routing Protocol, a Cisco proprietary dynamic routing protocol.
• 😀 EIGRP is a distance-vector routing protocol, similar to RIP, designed to manage routing on Cisco devices.
• 😀 The script uses Cisco 2911 routers for demonstrating the EIGRP configuration process.
• 😀 To configure EIGRP, IP addresses must be assigned to routers' interfaces and host devices first.
• 😀 Each router in the demonstration advertises directly connected networks using the EIGRP routing protocol.
• 😀 When configuring EIGRP, an autonomous system (AS) number is essential to identify the routing domain.
• 😀 In EIGRP configuration, networks are advertised using wildcard masks, which are the inverse of subnet masks.
• 😀 To advertise a network, the command 'Network [network_address] [wildcard_mask]' is used in the router CLI.
• 😀 EIGRP configurations are repeated across different routers to form neighbors and establish routing adjacencies.
• 😀 After the configuration, the script demonstrates testing connectivity between devices to ensure successful routing.
• 😀 The router’s role in EIGRP is to dynamically learn and exchange routing information to enable communication between devices.

Q & A

What is EIGRP and why is it used in networking?

EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) is a Cisco proprietary dynamic routing protocol. It is used to share routing information between routers in a network, ensuring that each router can dynamically learn the best path to route packets to their destination.

What makes EIGRP different from other routing protocols like RIP?

EIGRP is more advanced than RIP because it combines features of both distance-vector and link-state protocols. It is more efficient in handling large networks, provides faster convergence, and supports more complex network topologies. EIGRP also uses a metric that combines bandwidth, delay, load, and reliability for routing decisions.

What is an Autonomous System (AS) number in the context of EIGRP?

An Autonomous System (AS) number is used to identify a routing domain in EIGRP. It is a unique identifier for a group of routers that share the same routing policy and protocols. EIGRP routers within the same AS can exchange routing information.

How do you configure EIGRP on a router?

To configure EIGRP on a router, use the command `router eigrp [AS number]` in global configuration mode. Then, use the `network` command to specify which networks should be advertised by EIGRP, followed by their corresponding wildcard masks.

What is a wildcard mask in EIGRP configuration?

A wildcard mask is the inverse of a subnet mask and is used to specify which IP addresses are included in a network statement for EIGRP. For example, a subnet mask of `255.255.255.0` would have a wildcard mask of `0.0.0.255`.

What does the 'network' command do in EIGRP?

The `network` command in EIGRP is used to advertise a network into the EIGRP routing protocol. It identifies which IP networks should be included in EIGRP routing updates and which interfaces should participate in EIGRP.

Why is EIGRP considered a distance-vector routing protocol?

EIGRP is considered a distance-vector routing protocol because it uses the concept of distance (metric) to determine the best path. It sends updates to its neighbors, containing information about reachable networks and the cost to reach them, without maintaining a complete map of the network.

What are the steps to verify EIGRP configuration on a router?

To verify EIGRP configuration, you can use commands like `show ip eigrp neighbor` to check EIGRP neighbors, and `show ip route` to view the routing table and ensure that EIGRP-advertised routes are present.

How do you test connectivity between devices after configuring EIGRP?

After configuring EIGRP, you can test connectivity by using the `ping` command to send packets between devices in different parts of the network. This ensures that EIGRP has successfully established routes and that devices can communicate.

What are the key benefits of using EIGRP in a network?

The key benefits of EIGRP include faster convergence, efficient use of bandwidth, support for complex topologies, and the ability to scale well in large networks. It also offers better stability and reliability compared to other routing protocols like RIP.