What is a disadvantage of using RIP compared to EIGRP?

RIP, or Routing Information Protocol, has limitations regarding its support for variable length subnet masking (VLSM). This means that when utilizing RIP, the protocol cannot take advantage of network designs that utilize different subnet masks within the same network segment. This is a significant constraint because VLSM allows for more efficient use of IP addresses by enabling networks to be segmented into subnets of varying sizes based on the number of addresses required. In contrast, EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) does support VLSM, allowing for greater flexibility and more efficient routing in complex network topologies. Hence, RIP's lack of support for VLSM is a clear disadvantage when compared to EIGRP.

Other options present different aspects of routing protocols. However, they do not correctly highlight the inherent limitations of RIP compared to EIGRP. For instance, RIP does not provide faster convergence; in fact, EIGRP generally offers faster convergence due to its more advanced algorithms. Additionally, RIP tends to consume less bandwidth than some protocols, not more, which further emphasizes the efficiency of EIGRP in certain scenarios. Lastly, RIP is not exclusively an IPv6 protocol; it is primarily used for IPv4, while EIGRP has separate implementations for