RIP (Routing Information Protocol) sends routing-update messages at regular intervals and when the network topology changes. When a router receives a routing update that includes changes to an entry, it updates its routing table to reflect the new route. The metric value for the path is increased by 1, and the sender is indicated as the next hop. RIP routers maintain only the best route (the route with the lowest metric value) to a destination. After updating its routing table, the router immediately begins transmitting routing updates to inform other network routers about the change. These updates are sent independently of the regularly scheduled updates that RIP routers send. RIP uses a hop count as a way to determine network distance. Each host with a router in the network uses the routing table information to determine the next host to route a packet for a specified destination.