Study for the CompTIA Network+ Exam. Enhance your skills with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with explanations. Prepare effectively for your certification exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


Which routing protocol is known as the "three-napkins protocol"?

  1. OSPF

  2. EIGRP

  3. BGP

  4. RIP

The correct answer is: BGP

The routing protocol commonly referred to as the "three-napkins protocol" is Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). This nickname stems from the complex nature of its setup and configuration, which is often humorously described as requiring a lot of informal documentation or notation, akin to scribbles on napkins. BGP is fundamental for routing between different autonomous systems on the internet and is known for its capability to manage large amounts of routing information while ensuring stability and scalability. In contrast, the other protocols mentioned focus on different aspects of routing. OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is an internal link-state routing protocol that uses a more structured database to maintain routing information. EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) is a hybrid protocol that supports multiple network layer protocols and relies on a combination of distance vector and link-state methodologies. RIP (Routing Information Protocol) is a simpler distance vector protocol, primarily used in smaller networks or for learning purposes. These other protocols do not bear the same informal and simplistic naming convention as BGP when it comes to their documentation or setup.