Torn between using OSPF or EIGRP

We are in the planning/testing phase of moving from a collapsed core layer-2 design to layer-3 hub and spoke topology given the current network equipment and limitations. There are future plans to eventually connect some of the other spokes to one another creating a partial mesh topology. Each spoke is a different site throughout our county wide network. We will be readdressing each site as we move along with route summarization being the driving force for the IP address changes. Each site is rather small in size, we will be using a /27 mask for every site which will contain multiple subnets. This gives every site the potential to be summarized with one single route.

To make the transition from the layer-2 trunk links, we are going to create layer-3 point-to-point links over fiber between the core and each sites distribution switch. The core is a Cisco 6500 and the distribution switches are a mix of Cisco 3650 and 3560. To give an idea on the amount routing involved, there are roughly 15 distribution switches with the expected addition of multiple sites each year for years to come.

Here is where I’ve run into a dilemma so to speak. At the moment I’m torn between using OSPF or EIGRP due to licensing issues and current network layout. I know that may sound kind of silly but hear me out.

Originally the intention was to use OSPF for reasons such as being vendor neutral and OSPF scalability with future growth expected. We would be using a single area 0 design throughout the network given the current size and had plans to add additional areas as the network size increased. Each link between the core and distribution switch would be setup as OSPF network point-to-point with hub and spoke and then eventually some links would be configured as OSPF point to multipoint for the partial mesh.

Realizing that our distribution switches all have the IP Base license this would currently limit the network to a maximum of 200 OSPF routes for a single OSPF AS. Certainly this wouldn’t be a problem if we created additional areas but as it stands, we have no ABRs between the core and distribution switches which we could use to summarize our routes. With no summarization we end up with about 5-7 OSPF routes per site. Unless I’m missing something here we either would either have to purchase an additional router to use as an ABR for summarization or purchase a IP Services license for each distribution switch to remove the route limit.

We have considered EIGRP as we are currently all cisco but would like to stay vendor neutral as we could potentially have non-cisco down the road.

Using EIGRP we would be able to summarize at each distribution switch without additional equipment which is nice due to our situation but obviously there are still problems with using EIGRP. The drawbacks of EIGRP are that with our licensing all distribution switches would be in stub mode so we couldn’t pass the routes beyond that switch which is fine for now but later down the road when we want to take advantage of the mesh topology we will run into problems passing the routes between the stub routers, unless I am mistaken. Again, we could purchase licenses and use EIGRP without limitations.

On a side note, purchasing additional equipment and licensing is a possibility in the future but not at the moment.

Obviously, this is a decision that I have to sit down with my supervisor and thoroughly discuss but it would be great to get some outside opinions on the matter. I’m always open to suggestions as well, like I mentioned I could be missing something. Thanks for reading if you made it this far.