CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) Practice

What distinguishes Hybrid Routing protocols from others?

1. They use only link state methodology

2. They are exclusively for external routing

3. They combine features of distance vector and link state

4. They require a central controller for routing

The correct answer is: They combine features of distance vector and link state

Hybrid routing protocols are distinguished by their ability to combine the features of both distance vector and link state routing methodologies. This unique blending allows them to inherit the strengths of both approaches while mitigating some of their weaknesses. Distance vector protocols are generally simpler and use less memory, as they only require information about their immediate neighbors to make routing decisions. However, this simplicity can lead to problems like the count-to-infinity issues. On the other hand, link state protocols maintain a complete map of the network topology and provide more accurate and timely information, but they require more resources and can be more complex to implement. Hybrid routing protocols, therefore, bring together the simplicity and resource efficiency of distance vector methods with the comprehensive and timely updates of link state protocols. This combination allows for greater scalability and efficiency in routing decisions, making them particularly useful in complex networks where both rapid convergence and low resource consumption are desirable. This understanding of hybrid protocols provides insight into their design philosophy, as they aim to strike a balance between the two extremes found in pure distance vector and link state protocols.