Which routing protocol typically requires less bandwidth to exchange routes?

The correct choice is OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), which is indeed known for requiring less bandwidth compared to some other routing protocols. OSPF is a link-state routing protocol that sends updates only when there is a change in the network topology, rather than periodically sending full routing table updates. This feature minimizes the amount of data transmitted across the network.

OSPF uses a more efficient method called "areas," which allows it to optimize the routing process and reduce the size of routing updates that need to be communicated. When changes occur, only incremental updates are sent to the routers within a designated area rather than the entire network table. This selective sharing mechanism means that overall bandwidth consumption remains lower, making OSPF suitable for larger and more complex networks where bandwidth efficiency is crucial.

In contrast, protocols such as RIP (Routing Information Protocol), which is a distance-vector protocol, regularly sends complete routing updates every 30 seconds, leading to higher bandwidth usage. BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is designed for exchanging routing information between different autonomous systems, which can result in larger updates being sent, especially in large-scale networks. EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) does use some efficiency features, but it still tends to use more bandwidth than