Which type of routing automatically changes its path selection based on current network conditions like congestion or link failures?
Explanation
In computer networking, Adaptive Routing (also known as dynamic routing in a specific context) is the process where the routing algorithm automatically adjusts the path of data packets based on real-time network conditions.
While "Dynamic Routing" refers to protocols that update routing tables automatically (like OSPF or BGP), Adaptive Routing is the specific architectural classification for algorithms that monitor metrics such as:
Network Congestion: Calculating latency and buffer occupancy.
Link Status: Detecting physical link failures.
Node Availability: Rerouting around downed routers.
Mathematically, the path selection P can be represented as a function of the network state S and time t:
P=f(St)
Where St includes parameters like bandwidth usage, link cost, and queue length. If a link fails, the cost C for that path effectively becomes infinite:
Clink→∞
