Autodetection of routing protocol version and type for dial on demand links

Abstract

Method and system to automatically configure network devices with respect to the routing protocol versions and types of each device on a link are provided. In one embodiment, a packet is received from a first network device to a second network device. The first and second network devices are connected to form a link, the first network device and the second network device each having a version of a routing protocol, the packet identifying the first network device's routing protocol version. Further, the link is configured such that the routing protocol version is the same for the first and second network devices, wherein the version of the routing protocol of each of the fist and second network devices is one of a triggered type or a periodic type.

1 . A method, comprising: 
 receiving a packet from a first network device to a second network device, wherein the first and second network devices are connected to form a link, the first network device and the second network device each having a version of a routing protocol, the packet identifying the first network device's routing protocol version; and    configuring the link such that the routing protocol version is the same for the first and second network devices, wherein the version of the routing protocol of each of the fist and second network devices is one of a triggered type or a periodic type.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting the first network device's routing protocol type.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising determining whether the first network device's routing protocol type is the same as the second network device's routing protocol type.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising verifying the first network device's routing protocol version as being the same as the second network device's routing protocol version.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising choosing the same routing protocol version acceptable to the first and second network devices.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the link such that the routing protocol version of the first and second network devices comprises a default routing protocol version or a preferred routing protocol version.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the routing protocol comprises a Routing Information Protocol (RIP) having one or more of the following: Version 1 and Version 2.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the version of the RIP of each of the first and second network devices is one of a triggered type or a periodic type.  
   
   
       9 . A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data comprising sets of instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to: 
 receive a packet from a first network device to a second network device, wherein the first and second network devices are connected to form a link, the first network device and the second network device each having a version of a routing protocol, the packet identifying the first network device's routing protocol version; and    configure the link such that the routing protocol version is the same for the first and second network devices, wherein the version of the routing protocol of each of the fist and second network devices is one of a triggered type or a periodic type.    
   
   
       10 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the sets of instructions which, when executed by the machine, further cause the machine to detect the first network device's routing protocol type.  
   
   
       11 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the sets of instructions which, when executed by the machine, further cause the machine to determine whether the first network device's routing protocol type is the same as the second network device's routing protocol type.  
   
   
       12 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the sets of instructions which, when executed by the machine, further cause the machine to verify the first network device's routing protocol version as being the same as the second network device's routing protocol version.  
   
   
       13 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the sets of instructions which, when executed by the machine, further cause the machine to choose the same routing protocol version acceptable to the first and second network devices.  
   
   
       14 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the sets of instructions which, when executed by the machine, further cause the machine to configure the link such that the routing protocol version of the first and second network devices comprises a default routing protocol version or a preferred routing protocol version.  
   
   
       15 . A system, comprising: 
 a second network device to receive a packet from a first network device, wherein the first and second network devices are connected to form a link, the first network device and the second network device each having a version of a routing protocol, the packet identifying the first network device's routing protocol version; and    a processor coupled with a storage medium and the first and second network devices, the processor to configure the link such that the routing protocol version is the same for the first and second network devices, wherein the version of the routing protocol of each of the fist and second network devices is one of a triggered type or a periodic type.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further to detect the first network device's routing protocol type.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is further to determine whether the first network device's routing protocol type is the same as the second network device's routing protocol type.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further to verify the first network device's routing protocol version as being the same as the second network device's routing protocol version.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further to choose the same routing protocol version acceptable to the first and second network devices.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further to configure the link such that the routing protocol version of the first and second network devices comprises a default routing protocol version or a preferred routing protocol version.