ICMP Internet Router Discovery Protocol (IRDP) uses Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) router advertisements and router solicitation messages to allow a host to discover the addresses of operational routers on the subnet.
It basically consists of 2 Message-Types (see this list) used for discovering local routers. The message type 9 is sent periodically or on request (using a message of type 10) to the local subnet from the local router(s) to propagate themselves. On boot, the client may send a ICMP-Message of type 10 to ask for local routers. When a client receives a message type 9, they add the router to their local routing table.
Famous quotes containing the word discovery:
“It was one of those evenings when men feel that truth, goodness and beauty are one. In the morning, when they commit their discovery to paper, when others read it written there, it looks wholly ridiculous.”
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)