Protocol used to exchange information between the routers

The correct answer is option 'C', which states that RIP is the protocol used to exchange information between the routers.

RIP stands for Routing Information Protocol. It is one of the oldest and most commonly used routing protocols in computer networks. RIP is a distance-vector routing protocol, which means it determines the best path for data packets based on the number of hops (or routers) between the source and destination networks.

RIP operates by exchanging routing information between routers within a network. Each router maintains a routing table that contains information about the network addresses and the number of hops required to reach them. The routers periodically exchange their routing tables with neighboring routers to update the network topology.

Here is a detailed explanation of why RIP is the protocol used to exchange information between the routers:

1. Routing Protocol:
- RIP is specifically designed as a routing protocol, which means its primary purpose is to facilitate the exchange of routing information between routers.
- Routing protocols are used to determine the best path for data packets to travel through a network based on various metrics, such as hop count, bandwidth, or delay.

2. Exchange of Information:
- RIP enables routers to exchange information about network addresses and their corresponding hop counts.
- When a router receives a routing update from a neighboring router, it updates its own routing table based on the received information.
- By exchanging routing updates, routers can maintain an up-to-date view of the network topology and make informed decisions about forwarding data packets.

3. Distance-Vector Routing:
- RIP is a distance-vector routing protocol, which means it calculates the best path based on the number of hops to reach a destination network.
- Each router maintains a routing table that contains entries for all known networks and the associated hop counts.
- When a router receives a routing update, it compares the received hop count with its own hop count for the destination network. If the new hop count is lower, it updates its routing table accordingly.

4. Periodic Updates:
- RIP routers periodically exchange routing updates to ensure the network topology is up to date.
- By default, RIP sends updates every 30 seconds to its neighboring routers.
- These updates contain information about network addresses, hop counts, and other parameters required for routing.

In conclusion, RIP is the protocol used to exchange information between the routers. It facilitates the exchange of routing updates, allowing routers to maintain an up-to-date view of the network topology and make informed decisions about forwarding data packets.

C