Which protocol is known as the Routing Information Protocol?

The Routing Information Protocol, or RIP, is a distance-vector routing protocol used to determine the best route for data packets within an IP network. It employs a simple metric, specifically the hop count, which limits the number of allowable hops to 15. This makes RIP suitable for smaller networks.

RIP operates by having routers share their routing tables with neighboring routers at regular intervals, allowing them to update their knowledge of the network topology. This protocol is established in the early days of networking, making it one of the oldest routing protocols still in use, often in simpler implementations where the overhead of more complex protocols is unnecessary.

The other protocols listed serve different functions or are used in different contexts within routing. For instance, IPX is associated with Novell's networking architecture rather than IP routing. OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) and BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) are both more advanced routing protocols designed for larger or more complex networks, focusing on scalability and efficiency. OSPF employs a link-state approach while BGP manages the routing between autonomous systems on the internet.