Configuring RIP

RIP, the abbreviation for Routing Information Protocol, is an internal gateway routing protocol that is designed to exchange routing information between routers. At present system supports both RIP versions, i.e., RIP-1 and RIP-2.

RIP configuration includes basic options, redistribute, Passive IF, neighbor, network and distance. Besides, you also need to configure RIP parameters for different interfaces, including RIP version, split horizon and authentication mode. For detailed instruction, see Configuring an Interface.

Creating RIP

To create RIP, take the following steps:

  1. On the Navigation pane, click Configure > Network > Routing to visit the Routing page.
  2. On the RIP tab, click New.
  3. On the Basic tab in the RIP Configuration dialog, configure basic options for RIP.
    • Version: Specifies a RIP version. System supports RIP-1 and RIP-2. RIP-1 transmits packets by broadcasting, while RIP-2 transmits packet by multicasting. Select a version from the drop-down list. The default version is RIP-2.
    • Metric: Specifies a default metric. The value range is 1 to 15. If no value is specified, the value of 1 will be used. RIP measures the distance to the destination network by hops. This distance is known as metric. The metric from a router to a directly connected network is 1, and increments by 1 for every additional router between them. The max metric is 15, and the network with metric larger than 15 is not reachable. The default metric will take effect when the route is redistributed.
    • Distance: Specifies a default distance. The value range is 1 to 255. If no value is specified, the value of 120 will be used.
    • Information originate: Specifies if the default route will be redistributed to other routers with RIP enabled. By default RIP will not redistribute the default route. Select the Enable check box to redistribute the default route.
    • Update interval: Specifies an interval in which all RIP routes will be sent to all the neighbors. The value range is 0 to 16777215 seconds. The default value is 30.
    • Invalid time: If a route has not been updated for the invalid time, its metric will be set to 16, indicating an unreachable route. The value range is 1 to 16777215 seconds. The default value is 180.
    • Holddown time: If the metric becomes larger (e.g., from 2 to 4) after a route has been updated, the route will be assigned with a holddown time. During the holddown time, the route will not accept any update. The value range is 1 to 16777215 seconds. The default value is 180.
    • Flush time: System will keep on sending the unreachable routes (metric set to 16) to other routers during the flush time. If the route still has not been updated after the flush time ends, it will be deleted from the RIP information database. The value range is 1 to 16777215 seconds. The default value is 240.
  4. On the Redistribute tab, configure options for route redistribution. RIP allows to introduce information from other routing protocols (connected, static and OSPF) and redistribute the information.
    1. Select a protocol type for the route from the Protocol drop-down list. The type can be Connected, Static or OSPF.
    2. Type the metric for the route into the Metric box. If no value is specified, system will use the default metric value.
    3. Click Add to add the Redistribute route entry. All the entries that have been added will be displayed in the Redistribute Route list below.
    4. Repeat the above steps to add more Redistribute route entries. To delete a Redistribute route entry, select the entry you want to delete from the list, and click Delete.
  5. On the Passive IF tab, configure options for passive interfaces. You can configure some interfaces to only receive but not to send data. This kind of interfaces is known as a passive interface.
    1. Select a passive interface from the Interface drop-down list.
    2. Click Add to add the passive interface. All the interfaces that have been added will be displayed in the list below.
    3. Repeat the above steps to add more Passive IFs. To delete a Passive IF, select the entry you want to delete from the list, and click Delete.
  6. On the Neighbor tab, configure options for neighbors to allow P2P (non-broadcasting) RIP information exchanges between the neighbors and the security appliance.
    1. Type the neighbor IP into the Neighbor IP box.
    2. Click Add to add the neighbor IP. All the neighbor IPs that have been added will be displayed in the list below.
    3. Repeat the above steps to add more neighbor IPs. To delete a neighbor IP, select the entry you want to delete from the list, and click Delete.
  7. On the Network tab, configure options for networks. Only interfaces within the specified networks can receive and send RIP update.
    1. Type the IP address and netmask into the Network(IP/netmask) box.
    2. Click Add to add the network. All the networks that have been added will be displayed in the list below.
    3. Repeat the above steps to add more networks. To delete a network, select the entry you want to delete from the list, and click Delete.
  8. On the Distance tab, configure options for distances. You can specify a management distance for the routes that are obtained from the specified networks.
    1. Type the distance into the Distance box. The priority of the specified distance is higher than than the default distance.
    2. Type the IP prefix and netmask into the Network(IP/netmask) box.
    3. Click Add to add the distance. All the distances that have been added will be displayed in the list below.
    4. Repeat the above steps to add more distances. To delete a distance, select the entry you want to delete from the list, and click Delete.
  9. On the DB tab, view the database. Route entries to all the reachable networks are stored in the database.
    • IP/netmask: IP prefix and netmask of the route.
    • Next hop: Next hop of the route.
    • Metric: Metric of the route.
    • Source: Source of the route, either user-defined or learned from RIP.
    • Time: Timer information of the route, e.g., Invalid time or Flush time.
  10. Click OK to save your changes.

Editing/Deleting RIP

To edit/delete RIP, take the following steps:

  1. On the Navigation pane, click Configure > Network > Routing to visit the Routing page.
  2. On the RIP tab, select the RIP instance you want to edit/delete from the instance list below, and click Edit/Delete.

Note: Configuration for RIP on the security appliance's interfaces includes: RIP version, split horizon and authentication mode. For more information on how to configure RIP on an interface, see Configuring an Interface.