09/02/2026, 13:46 RIP Protocol configuration Guide with Examples
RIP Protocol configuration Guide with Examples
RIP (Routing Information Protocol) is one of the earliest and most straightforward distance-vector
routing protocols. It uses hop count as the metric. This tutorial explains how to configure, test,
and verify it on a network.
Lab setup
A lab is optional. You can skip it if you need only configuration steps and commands. However, if
you are learning this concept for any certification exam, this lab is essential. You can use real
devices or a network simulation software to set up this lab. Packet Tracer is a network simulation
software. This tutorial uses Packet Tracer. It also provides download links for the lab used in this
tutorial at various configuration levels. These labs allow you to cross-verify your configuration as
you follow this tutorial.
Create a practice lab as shown in the following image, or download the following prebuilt lab.
Download RIP Practice Topology
Initial IP configuration
Device Interface IP Configuration Connected with
PC0 Fast Ethernet [Link]/8 Router0’s Fa0/1
Router0 Fa0/1 [Link]/8 PC0’s Fast Ethernet
Router0 S0/0/1 [Link]/30 Router2’s S0/0/1
Router0 S0/0/0 [Link]/30 Router1’s S0/0/0
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Router1 S0/0/0 [Link]/30 Router0’s S0/0/0
Router1 S0/0/1 [Link]/30 Router2’s S0/0/0
Router2 S0/0/0 [Link]/30 Router1’s S0/0/1
Router2 S0/0/1 [Link]/30 Router0’s S0/0/1
Router2 Fa0/1 [Link]/30 PC1’s Fast Ethernet
PC1 Fast Ethernet [Link]/30 Router2’s Fa0/1
Assigning IP addresses to PCs
Click PC0, click Desktop, click IP Configuration, and assign IP address [Link]/8.
Repeat this process for PC1 and assign the IP address [Link]/8.
Assigning IP addresses to router interfaces
Access the CLI prompt of Router0.
Assigning IP addresses to router interfaces
Run the following commands.
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Router(config)#interface FastEthernet 0/0
Router(config-if)#ip address [Link] [Link]
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#
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The first command enters Privilege Exec mode.
The second command enters Global configuration mode.
The third command enters Interface configuration mode of the FastEthernet 0/0 interface.
The fourth command assigns the IP address [Link] to the interface.
The sixth command starts the interface.
The seventh command exits Interface configuration mode.
A serial interface needs two more parameters: clock rate and bandwidth. A serial cable has two
ends: DCE and DTE. You need to configure these parameters only on the DCE side. To check
which side of the cable is attached to the interface, run the show controllers [interface]
command in Privilege Exec mode. The output of this command shows the cable type attached to
it. If the output of this command shows the cable type DCE, configure these parameters.
Router#show controllers serial 0/0/0
Interface Serial0/0/0
Hardware is PowerQUICC MPC860
DCE V.35, clock rate 2000000
[Output omitted]
Router#configure terminal
Router(config)#interface serial 0/0/0
Router(config-if)#ip address [Link] [Link]
Router(config-if)#clock rate 64000
Router(config-if)#bandwidth 64
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#interface serial 0/0/1
Router(config-if)#ip address [Link] [Link]
Router(config-if)#clock rate 64000
Router(config-if)#bandwidth 64
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#
Router1
The following commands assign IP addresses to Router1's interfaces.
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router(config)#interface serial 0/0/0
Router(config-if)#ip address [Link] [Link]
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#interface serial 0/0/1
Router(config-if)#ip address [Link] [Link]
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Router(config-if)#clock rate 64000
Router(config-if)#bandwidth 64
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router2
Use the following commands to configure IP addresses on Router2 interfaces.
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/0
Router(config-if)#ip address [Link] [Link]
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#interface serial 0/0/0
Router(config-if)#ip address [Link] [Link]
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#exit
Router(config)#interface serial 0/0/1
Router(config-if)#ip address [Link] [Link]
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config)#
The following link provides this lab with the above IP configurations.
Practice lab with the IP configurations
Configuring the RIP routing protocol
Configuring the RIP protocol is straightforward and involves just two steps:
Enable the RIP routing protocol from Global configuration mode.
Provide the networks that you want RIP to advertise.
The router rip command enables the RIP routing protocol on the router. The network command
specifies which networks to advertise.
Router0
Router0(config)#router rip
Router0(config-router)#network [Link]
Router0(config-router)#network [Link]
Router0(config-router)#network [Link]
Router1
Router1(config)#router rip
Router1(config-router)#network [Link]
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Router1(config-router)#network [Link]
Router2
Router2(config)#router rip
Router2(config-router)#network [Link]
Router2(config-router)#network [Link]
Router2(config-router)#network [Link]
Verifying RIP routing
To verify the configuration, you can use the ping command. The ping command lets you test
connectivity between the source and destination. Open the command prompt on PC1 and send
ping requests to PC0. Reply messages confirm connectivity and RIP routing.
Testing and verifying RIP routing
The following link provides this lab with the above configurations.
Practice lab with RIP routing
Managing network changes
RIP dynamically manages all routes. If a route goes down, RIP switches to an alternative route.
This network has two routes between PC0 and PC1.
Route 1
PC0 [Source / destination – [Link]] <==> Router0 [FastEthernet0/1 – [Link]] <==> Router0
[Serial0/0/1 – [Link]] <==> Router2 [Serial 0/0/1 – [Link]] <==> Router2
[FastEthernet0/0 – [Link]] <==> PC1 [Destination /source – [Link]]
Route 2
PC0 [Source / destination – [Link]] <==> Router0 [FastEthernet0/1 – [Link]] <==> Router0
[Serial0/0/0 – [Link]] <==> Router1 [Serial 0/0/0 – [Link]] <==> Router1 [Serial
0/0/1 – [Link]] <==> Router2 [Serial 0/0/0 – [Link]] <==> Router2
[FastEthernet0/0 – [Link]] <==> PC1 [Destination /source – [Link]]
RIP selects the route with the lowest hop count between the source and destination. In this
network, route 1 has the lowest hop count and will be chosen. You can use the tracert command
to verify this selection.
Verifying the selected route
Remove the serial cable that connects the serial interface s0/0/1 of Router 0 to the serial
interface s0/0/1 of Router 2.
Removing the cable
If an alternative route is available, RIP will automatically replace the primary route with it in the
routing table. Use the tracert command again to verify it.
RIP rerouting
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RIP configuration commands summary
Command Description
Router(config)#router rip Enable RIP routing protocol.
Router(config-router)#network Add a.b.c.d network in RIP routing advertisement.
a.b.c.d
Router(config-router)#no Remove a.b.c.d network from RIP routing advertisement.
network a.b.c.d
Router(config-router)#version 1 Enable RIP routing protocol version one ( default).
Router(config-router)#version 2 Enable RIP routing protocol version two.
Router(config-router)#no auto- By default, RIPv2 automatically summarizes networks at
summary their default classful boundaries. This command will turn
it off.
Router(config-router)#passive- RIP will not broadcast routing updates from this
interface s0/0/0 interface.
Router(config-router)#no ip split- Disable split horizon ( Enable by default ).
horizon
Router(config-router)#ip split- Enable split horizon.
horizon
Router(config-router)#timers Allow us to set RIP timer in seconds. 30 (routing update),
basic 30 90 180 270 360 90 (invalid timer), 180 ( Hold timer), 270 (Flush timer),
360 (sleep timer).
Router(config)#no router rip Disable RIP routing protocol.
Router#debug ip rip Used for troubleshooting. Allow us to view all RIP-related
activity in real time.
Router#show ip rip database Display RIP database including routes.
This tutorial is part of the tutorial series "RIP (Routing Information Protocol) Features,
Functions, and Configurations Explained". Other parts of this series are the following.
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09/02/2026, 13:46 RIP Protocol configuration Guide with Examples
Chapter 1 How RIP Routing works
Chapter 2 RIP – Routing Information Protocol Explained
Chapter 3 RIP Routing features and functions
Chapter 4 Routing Loops Explained with Examples
Chapter 5 Split Horizon Explained with Examples
Chapter 6 Infinity Metric and Route Poisoning Explained
Chapter 7 RIP Protocol Configuration Guide with Examples
Conclusion
In summary, configuring RIP routing in a Cisco network is straightforward, enhancing network
resilience and enabling dynamic route management. By following the steps outlined in this
tutorial, you have learned how to set up RIP, verify connectivity, and observe how RIP adapts to
network changes. Mastering these fundamentals prepares you to implement more advanced
routing protocols and manage real-world network environments with confidence.
By ComputerNetworkingNotes Updated on 2026-01-01
ComputerNetworkingNotes CCNA Study Guide RIP Protocol configuration Guide with
Examples
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