Routers use routing protocols to exchange routing tables and to share routing information.
RIP enables routers to update their routing tables at programmable intervals, usually every 30 seconds. One disadvantage of routers that use RIP is that they are constantly connecting to neighboring routers to update their routing tables, thus creating large amounts of network traffic. RIP allows routers to determine which path to use to send data. It does so by using a concept known as distance-vector . Whenever data goes through a router, and thus, through a new network number, this is considered to be equal to one hop.