Preventing and Diagnosing EIGRP Stuck-in-Active Issues with Route Analytics

by Packet Design
Published 2006, Posted November 2006

Abstract:

The distributed intelligence of IP routing is a key advantage of IP networks, offering greater scalability, cost-effectiveness and superior resilience than statically configured networks.  However, this same dynamic, distributed architecture presents significant management challenges to network administrators and engineers responsible for assuring service availability, reliability and predictability. While various router configurations can influence how packets will be forwarded, it is essentially the routing algorithms and routing protocol communications that determine the operational behavior of the network at any moment.  Despite the critical nature of routing, there have been very few tools available to simplify and automate the monitoring, analysis and troubleshooting of routing in an IP network.  The result is that network engineers have found themselves ill equipped to tackle the complex logical/Layer 3 issues that cause a significant percentage of network downtime.

This application note explores the specific phenomenon of “Stuck in Active” (SIA) errors in networks utilizing Cisco’s Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP).  The first section provides a technical overview of EIGRP operation including the details behind SIA errors, describes the challenges of how network administrators have traditionally performed troubleshooting on SIA errors, and illustrates the need for a much more effective approach to dealing with routing-related issues.  The second section provides an overview of Route Analytics technology, and explains how Route Analytics can be utilized by network engineers to more effectively prevent and rapidly troubleshoot EIGRP SIA issues.

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