Administrative Distance (AD) and Autonomous System (AS)


Administrative Distance (AD) and Autonomous System (AS) are two important concepts in the field of computer networking. These concepts are used to determine the trustworthiness and reliability of routing information that is received from different sources. Understanding these concepts is crucial for network administrators as they are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the network and ensuring that data is transmitted efficiently.

What is Administrative Distance (AD)?

Administrative Distance (AD) is a metric that is used to determine the trustworthiness of routing information that is received from different sources. It is a value that is assigned to each routing protocol, and it ranges from 0 to 255. The lower the AD value, the more trustworthy the routing information is considered to be.

For example, if a router receives routing information from two different sources, one with an AD value of 0 and the other with an AD value of 100, the router will use the information from the source with the AD value of 0. This is because the router considers the information from the source with the AD value of 0 to be more trustworthy than the information from the source with the AD value of 100.

The AD value is determined by the network administrator, and it is used to give preference to certain routing protocols over others. This is useful in situations where multiple routing protocols are being used, and the network administrator wants to give priority to one protocol over the others.

What is Autonomous System (AS)?

An Autonomous System (AS) is a collection of routers that are under the control of a single administrative domain. These routers are configured to use a common routing protocol and share routing information with each other. This allows the network administrator to maintain control over the routing within the network and ensures that data is transmitted efficiently.

For example, a large corporation may have multiple locations, and each location may have its own set of routers. These routers are connected to each other and share routing information. This allows the corporation to maintain control over the routing within the network and ensures that data is transmitted efficiently.

The Autonomous System Number (ASN) is a unique number that is assigned to each AS. This number is used to identify the AS and is used by other routers to exchange routing information. The ASN is a 16-bit number, and it ranges from 1 to 65535.

Examples of AD and AS in Action

To better understand the concepts of AD and AS, let's consider a scenario where a network administrator is responsible for maintaining a network that connects multiple locations. The network administrator is using two routing protocols, OSPF and BGP, and wants to give priority to OSPF over BGP.

In this scenario, the network administrator assigns an AD value of 0 to OSPF and an AD value of 100 to BGP. This means that the network administrator considers OSPF to be more trustworthy than BGP.

When a router receives routing information from both OSPF and BGP, it will use the information from OSPF because it has a lower AD value. This ensures that the network administrator has control over the routing within the network and ensures that data is transmitted efficiently.

The network administrator also assigns each location its own Autonomous System Number (ASN). This allows the network administrator to maintain control over the routing within each location and ensures that data is transmitted efficiently.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Administrative Distance (AD) and Autonomous System (AS) are important concepts in the field of computer networking. They are used to determine the trustworthiness and reliability of routing information that is received from different sources. Understanding these concepts is crucial for network administrators as they are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the network and ensuring that data is transmitted efficiently.

Updated on: 31-Jan-2023

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