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What Two Statements Are Correct Regarding EIGRP Authentication?
Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) is a routing protocol widely used in computer networks to efficiently exchange routing information. EIGRP authentication is an essential feature that helps secure the routing updates exchanged between EIGRP peers. In this article, we will explore two correct statements regarding EIGRP authentication and answer some frequently asked questions about this topic.
Statement 1: EIGRP authentication provides data integrity and authentication.
EIGRP authentication ensures that routing updates received by an EIGRP router are genuine and have not been tampered with. It provides data integrity by verifying that the routing information has not been modified during transmission. Additionally, it offers authentication to verify the identity of the sender, ensuring that routing updates are only accepted from trusted sources.
To achieve these objectives, EIGRP authentication uses a key chain mechanism. A key chain is a sequence of keys, each associated with a specific key ID. Both the sender and receiver of EIGRP updates must share the same key chain and key ID to establish a secure communication channel. This mechanism prevents unauthorized routers from injecting false or malicious routing information into the network.
Statement 2: EIGRP authentication supports multiple authentication methods.
EIGRP authentication supports various authentication methods, providing flexibility for network administrators to choose the most suitable option for their network environment. The following authentication methods are available in EIGRP:
1. Null Authentication: This method does not provide any authentication. It is often used for testing or in networks where security is not a concern.
2. Clear Text Authentication: This method sends the key in plain text, which is vulnerable to eavesdropping and interception. It is not recommended for production networks unless additional security measures, such as encryption, are implemented.
3. MD5 Authentication: This method uses the MD5 algorithm to hash the key, providing a secure way to authenticate EIGRP updates. MD5 authentication ensures that the key cannot be easily deciphered, making it the preferred method for securing EIGRP routing updates.
FAQs:
Q1. How do I enable EIGRP authentication?
To enable EIGRP authentication, follow these steps:
1. Configure a key chain on both the sending and receiving routers using the same key ID and key value.
2. Enable authentication for EIGRP updates by specifying the key chain on the interface or globally for the router.
3. Verify the configuration by checking the authentication status using the “show ip eigrp interfaces” command.
Q2. Can I use different authentication methods for different neighbors in EIGRP?
Yes, EIGRP allows you to configure different authentication methods for different neighbors. This flexibility allows administrators to tailor authentication requirements based on the security needs of each neighbor.
Q3. What happens if the authentication key does not match between EIGRP peers?
If the authentication key does not match between EIGRP peers, the routing updates will be rejected, and the neighbors will not establish an adjacency. It is crucial to ensure that the key chain and key ID are identical on both sides to establish a secure EIGRP communication channel.
Q4. Can EIGRP authentication prevent routing loops?
EIGRP authentication primarily focuses on securing routing updates and verifying the authenticity of the sender. While it does not directly prevent routing loops, EIGRP’s built-in loop prevention mechanisms, such as feasible successors and split horizon, help ensure loop-free routing within the network.
In conclusion, EIGRP authentication provides data integrity and authentication, securing the exchange of routing updates in a network. It supports multiple authentication methods, with MD5 authentication being the most secure option. By enabling EIGRP authentication and configuring the appropriate authentication method, network administrators can enhance the security of their EIGRP infrastructure and protect against unauthorized routing updates.
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