What does route redistribution allow?

Route redistribution is a fundamental concept in networking that enables the transfer of routing information between different routing protocols. This capability is crucial for ensuring that diverse parts of a network can communicate with one another effectively, even when they use different protocols for routing decisions.

When routes from one protocol are advertised in another, it allows a router that is configured for a specific routing protocol to share its routing table with routers that use a different protocol. For example, if you have a network using OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) and another segment using EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol), redistribution allows both segments to learn the routes from each other. As a result, it enhances network connectivity and enables seamless communication across disparate network environments.

This feature of route redistribution is particularly beneficial in larger, more complex networks where multiple routing protocols are employed to optimize routing traffic, manage different types of connections, or address various administrative needs. By allowing the advertisement of routes from one protocol into another, it ensures that routers throughout the network have the necessary routing information to forward packets appropriately across the entire infrastructure.