RFC 1723 Specifications

RIP-2, like its predecessor, was specifically designed for use as an Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) in small networks. Its capability to support subnet masks, however, meant that it would accommodate a degree of network addressing complexity that RIP couldn't.

RIP-2 Message Format

RIP-2 uses a special message format, or packet, to collect and share information about distances to known internetworked destinations. This packet contains the following structure:

  • A 1-octet Command field

  • A 1-octet Version Number field

  • A 2-octet Unused field

  • A 2-octet Address Family Identifier (AFI) field

  • A 2-octet Route Tag field

  • A 4-octet Networking Address (that is, IP address) field

  • A 4-octet Subnet Mask field

  • A 4-octet Next Hop field

  • A 4-octet ...

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