Understanding the network.pdf - Back to Home

IPX EIGRP functionality is similar to IP EIGRP; it supports redistribution of IPX, RIP
and NLSP, route filtering, and IPX-specific adjustments such as variable SAP
announcements (interface subcommand ) and SAP
filtering with the IPX EIGRP subcommand . Each of the protocol-specific EIGRP processes
run distinctly, so different PID should be used when configuring the separate
instances.
Enabling Load Sharing and Balancing with
EIGRP/IGRP
EIGRP is particularly sensitive to bandwidth consumption when it sends routing
update information. The amount of bandwidth that can be used to send updates is
adjustable (for all EIGRP protocol implementations). The bandwidth allocation for
EIGRP is set as an interface configuration subcommand:
IGRP and EIGRP provide the capability to distribute network traffic load over links of
unequal costs for load balancing. IGRP supports asymmetric load balancing over
four unequal-cost paths. EIGRP supports up to six. The router configuration
subcommand is used to enable this feature, and its
default setting is 1. The variance value is used to recompute the metrics of routes of
lesser value than that of the primary route. For example, if the variance was set to
3, any route with a metric 3 times greater (the lower the number, the better the
metric) will be used to forward traffic.
There is also a way to balance the traffic by using the router configuration
subcommand . This configuration helps the
router determine if the traffic should be balanced (default) or should favor the
lowest path cost first.
Adjusting Administrative Distances
EIGRP and IGRP handle metrics the same way, but compute administrative
distances differently. IGRP uses a single administrative distance of 100. This value