Explaining the Difference Between EIGRP Feasible Distance and Reported Distance

When it comes to EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol), understanding the difference between Feasible Distance (FD) and Reported Distance (RD) is crucial for network engineers.

Focus Keyword: EIGRP Feasible Distance vs. Reported Distance

EIGRP Feasible Distance (FD):

The Feasible Distance is the cumulative metric or cost value that represents the best-known metric from the current router to a specific destination network. It is calculated based on the total metric along the path to reach the destination, considering factors like bandwidth, delay, reliability, and load.

EIGRP Reported Distance (RD):

The Reported Distance, also known as Advertised Distance, is the metric value of a neighboring router to reach a particular network. When a router receives an EIGRP update packet from a neighbor, it includes the RD information, which represents the neighbor's metric to the destination network.

Essentially, the main difference between FD and RD in EIGRP is that FD is the best-known metric from the local router to a network, while RD is the metric advertised by a neighboring router for the same network.

It's important for network administrators to monitor and analyze both Feasible Distance and Reported Distance values in EIGRP to optimize routing decisions and ensure efficient network performance.