Next-Hop
In computer networking, the concept of a “next-hop” refers to the next router or network device that a packet must go through in order to reach its destination.
The concept is commonly used in routing protocols to determine the next router to which a packet should be forwarded.
When a packet arrives at a router, the router examines the destination IP address of the packet and consults its routing table to determine the next-hop for the packet. The routing table contains information about the network topology, including the destination network addresses and the corresponding next-hop router or interface.
The next-hop can be an IP address or the interface of a router. If the next-hop is an IP address, the router needs to determine the interface connected to the next-hop router. It does this by using techniques like Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) or Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) to obtain the MAC address of the next-hop router.
The next-hop information is crucial for routing packets efficiently across a network. It allows routers to make forwarding decisions and ensures that packets are delivered to their correct destination. Routing protocols like OSPF and BGP exchange and update next-hop information among routers in order to maintain accurate and up-to-date routing tables.
In summary, next-hop is the next router or network device that a packet needs to traverse in order to reach its destination. It is determined by the routing table and plays a vital role in routing packets effectively through a network.
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