Convergence time varies significantly:
RIP:
- Detection: seconds (Invalid timer)
- Recovery: Additional + seconds (holddown)
- Total: - minutes
OSPF:
- Detection: seconds (Dead interval) or sub-second with BFD
- Recovery: Seconds (SPF calculation)
- Total: Under minute, often seconds
EIGRP:
- Detection: seconds (Hold time) or sub-second with BFD
- Recovery: Instant if feasible successor exists
- Total: Seconds or less
For networks requiring high availability, OSPF or EIGRP with BFD (Bidirectional Forwarding Detection) provides sub-second failover.