What is a Routing Algorithm in a Computer Network?
Do you know the major difference between humans and hardware?
Well, it might sound bizarre but the major difference between hardware and the operator is that we humans know how to maximize the data use and minimize the time while at it.
Since, hardware does not have this characteristic feature of dealing with optimization, logic, or any additional information, it works on the code you feed it. It also needs a specific code or an algorithm to transfer a certain data package from the source to the required device.
But what will decide a route or track for these data packets to travel without taking much time? The answer is Routing algorithms in computer networks.
These algorithms in computer networks allow you to create a certain path for the data packages to travel from the router to the device.
Wondering what a router is? Well, the router is simply a device that connects your devices with an available internet connection. So, now that you know about routers, let’s discuss routing algorithms in computer networks.
What is a Routing Algorithm?
The routing algorithm is simply a kind of algorithm that deals only with steps and procedures used for transferring data packets from the source to the computer network. Before getting in-depth about the routing algorithm, it is significant to know what algorithms are.
In layman’s language algorithms are the steps or code that help you to perform a specific procedure. Routing algorithms are limited to a code that allows the data to transfer throughout the network in the most convenient and optimizing way.
While routing algorithms in computer networks only work on the procedure, the routing table is maintained by the router itself. Routing algorithms having versatile characteristics that are known to be highly efficient and valuable for transferring data packages.
These Routing algorithms are divided into two broad categories that are explained further in this article.
Categories of the Routing algorithm
Majorly, the routing algorithms are divided into two broad categories : non-adaptive routing algorithms and adaptive routing algorithms. All you need to know about these categories of routing algorithms is given as :
Adaptive routing algorithms:
As the name itself suggests, these routing algorithms are very adaptive. By “Adaptive”, it means that these algorithms change their route or routing decisions with the current network topology or load changes in network traffic. These algorithms will adapt themselves just right with all the network essentials in an instant. The stop and wait protocol arc is similar to adaptive routing algorithms.
Non-adaptive routing algorithms:
The non-adaptive routing algorithms will not change their routing decisions once they fix them. Any kind of change based on network load or traffic will not be incorporated if non-adaptive routing algorithms are running.
They are further classified into two categories which are discussed as follows:
Flooding: You do not require a certain network in this routing algorithm. All the incoming packets are allowed to travel through the route to any of the links. However, each packet is allotted a unique number that helps in distinguishing the discarded packets.
These numbers are then stored on the nodes which are responsible for controlling the overall network load. Packet forwarding can easily and efficiently be performed using the flooding method as no node or route is left unchecked in this algorithm.
Random walk: It is quite clear from the name itself that in this algorithm each data packet is sent from one node to another via the link and only specific routes.
Now, let us have a look at various types of Routing algorithms available in computer networking. These are divided into three main categories:
Distance vector: The routing algorithms are based on the data received from the router and as discussed earlier, the router maintains all the routing tables themselves. Since the routers fetch data from routing tables at a fixed interval of time, the values or the most accurate path to be chosen might differ.
For every new value from the routing table, a more accurate route is generated. Therefore, the new decision about the routes is based on various parameters including the packet queue length, time delay, and such. This type of routing algorithm is known as the distance vector.
Path to Vector: Under this routing algorithm the route stores the updated values of the network essentials and the routing table. This type of routing algorithm is fit for interdomain routing that will stay updated from time to time
Link-state routing: this routing algorithm technique uses various steps of a protocol to carry forward a process. Following are the steps of link-state routing
- Firstly, the nodes of the route are found and each node is saved with their accurate address
- Next, the routing algorithm measures the delay between the nodes lying together or simply the neighboured nodes
- Then, a packet is created to save and store all this information appropriately
- Based on this data, the shortest route for transferring the data packages is determined
- Afterwards, the flooding of packets is selected
- Each packet is identified via a unique number assigned to it for reducing the duplicity issue
This type of routing algorithm is usually used in a network that is huge and the changes will not be very frequent.
Why is the Routing algorithm Important?
By now, you must be thinking why should you go for the routing algorithm and engage yourself in something complicated!? The answer is the basic work of the routing algorithm.
The routing algorithms are highly essential to establishing a strong connection between the systems available. You will need an efficient routing algorithm to make sure that you can connect these systems via the network.
Another importance of the routing algorithm is to speed up the process of transferring the data. With routing algorithms, you can transfer any data within seconds or even fractions of seconds from one device to another via the network.
Conclusion
The routing algorithms are essential to speed up the data package transfer process and also to make it more convenient for the user as well as the system. Now that you know how important the routing algorithms are you will surely understand their significance and operationS.
