What process does EIGRP use to maintain network topology?

EIGRP, or Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol, employs the Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL) as a fundamental mechanism for maintaining network topology. DUAL is critical because it allows EIGRP to rapidly converge and ensure that all routers within the network agree on the best routes while maintaining loop-free paths.

This algorithm works by keeping track of the topology of the network and calculating the best paths using the costs associated with each route. When a topology change occurs, DUAL determines the most efficient way to update the routing tables of the routers, ensuring minimal disruption and quick adaptation to changes in the network. It does this while preserving the routing information needed to maintain stable operations, making it especially advantageous in dynamic networking environments.

The other processes mentioned, while related to different aspects of EIGRP or other routing protocols, do not specifically focus on maintaining network topology in the same way DUAL does. Protocol-dependent modules refer to the modular design of EIGRP that allows for compatibility with various network layer protocols but do not directly describe route maintenance. The topology table is used by EIGRP to store information about all the routes it has learned, but it is DUAL that actively manages and maintains that information to ensure optimal routing. Link state updates are associated