Bounding Queries in EIGRP Networks

The stability of a large-scale EIGRP network is often dependent on the range of a query through the network. If a query must travel from one end of a large network to the other, the odds are high that stuck-in-actives will be common. Essentially, the greater the number of routers and links a query must travel, the greater the likelihood of encountering a poor link or a router that cannot answer immediately. Therefore, the likelihood is greater that a route will become stuck-in-active.

There are two primary ways to bound the range of a query:

• Summarization, which is covered in the next section.

• Distribution lists, which are covered in Chapter 7, "EIGRP Network Design."