Routing protocols are essential in creating and maintaining communication networks. They help to ensure that data packages are transferred from one network to another without interruption or loss. However, the debate over which routing protocol to use – Classful or Classless Routing – has been a persistent one.
To understand the debate between Classful and Classless Routing, it is important to understand each routing protocol’s concept and how they work.
Classful Routing Protocol
Classful routing protocol is the oldest method of routing protocols developed in the late ’70s, and it recognizes IP addresses from specific classes. Classful routing protocols divide IP addresses into several classes, which define the range and size of the network.
In Classful Routing Protocol, all IP address bits have specific meanings which dictate how they should be routed. The protocol divides the IP address into network and host portions determined by a subnet mask. The subnet mask is a 32-bit number used to divide an IP address into network and host portions. Classful routing protocols are still used. However, they have become outdated due to their limitations in supporting complex networks.
Classless Routing Protocol
Classless Routing is a newer method of routing compared to the Classful routing protocol. Classless routing is more flexible than classful routing using variable length subnet masks (VLSM) that allow for smaller or larger subnets within a network. It is designed to support the Internet and larger networks with complex IP address assignments.
Classless Routing protocol works by not mustering IP addresses into particular classes. Instead, it can divide and subdivide IP addresses into small or large subnets. It enables an organization to make optimal utilization of every IP address allocated to them.
The Debate
Organizations have had to decide which protocol to use, as Classful Routing protocol is outdated, and Classless Routing protocol is more flexible and efficient.
Classful Routing protocol is becoming less popular for two significant reasons. Firstly, it is limited in supporting the complex addressing models needed by today’s networks. That inflexibility means that it is only used in a few specific areas where it is deemed adequate, such as some large scale B2B applications.
Secondly, Classful Routing protocol results in the misuse of IP addresses. The nature of Classful Routing Protocol would continuously lead to IP address wastage since it can’t accommodate smaller networks that may exist within larger networks.
On the other hand, Classless Routing protocol has proven to be more efficient, flexible, and has built-in scalability parameters such that it can easily accommodate larger networks of many hosted devices, both currently and in the future.
Classless Routing protocol presents several benefits over Classful Routing protocol such as:
-It can handle large amounts of addressing information.
-It is easier to troubleshoot and maintain.
-It allows for better optimization of available address space.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the debate between Classful and Classless Routing has been going on for decades. While Classful Routing Protocol was the original protocol, it is gradually becoming obsolete. Classless Routing, on the other hand, is the more flexible protocol and allows for smaller or larger subnets within a network. Ultimately, organizations should choose what suits their needs and operating environment for better outcomes.