RIP Timer Recommendations

[chad.howard]

Wondering how far I can safely notch down RIPv2 timers.

I'd prefer not to use RIP, but I am for now.

I only need to route between two WAN routers and a single 3750 stack in my main network closet. Total of about 10 routes (various vlans and 0/0), max of 20 routes.

With that few routes, would it be safe to notch down the RIP timers to 5 15 15 30 , or even 3 9 9 18 ?

Or would that start to choke on the 3750 if I put production traffice on it?

Thanks,

Chad

[pkhatri]

Hi Chad,

What is the size of the WAN link over which you are running RIP ? As long as you can be absolutely certain that you will not carry more than a few routes, you can wind your timers down safely to 5 15 15 30. You could go lower but it's likely to cause more harm than good. In fact, have you considered using something like OSPF. You could use really low timers for hellos and it will give you better convergence performance since that is what you seem to be after.

Hope that helps - pls rate the post if it does.

Paresh

[chad.howard]

Sorry for the delay.

This is actually on the LAN side only. The WAN side is using BGP and redistributing a default route into RIPv2.

I'd much prefer OSPF or EIGRP for better convergence, but I have to wait for a separate project approval to fund IP Services code. :)

That does answer my question about the timers. I won't plan on going lower than the 5 15 15 30.

Thank you!