Characteristics of RPL

A.

RPL stands for Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks. It is a routing protocol specifically designed for low-power and lossy networks such as sensor networks and Internet of Things (IoT) networks.

Of the options provided, option A is true - RPL is designed for lossy networks. Lossy networks are characterized by high packet loss rates, low data rates, and unreliable links. These networks are commonly used in industrial automation, smart cities, and agriculture, among others. RPL is designed to provide a scalable and energy-efficient routing protocol for these types of networks.

Option B is false - RPL can send both secured and unsecured messages. Security mechanisms can be added to RPL to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the routing information. These security mechanisms can include authentication, encryption, and digital signatures.

Option C is false - RPL does not use hello messages to send routing updates to its neighbors. Instead, RPL uses a trickle algorithm to distribute routing information. The trickle algorithm is a distributed algorithm that controls how often nodes advertise their routing information to their neighbors. This algorithm minimizes the amount of traffic in the network and ensures that nodes have up-to-date routing information.

Option D is false - RPL is not an IPv6 link-state routing protocol. Instead, it is a distance-vector routing protocol that uses a source-routing mechanism. In this mechanism, the source node includes the entire path in the packet header, and intermediate nodes forward the packet based on this path. This approach reduces the overhead of maintaining routing tables in intermediate nodes and makes RPL suitable for low-power and lossy networks.

In summary, the correct answer is A - RPL is designed for lossy networks.