Routing protocols Layer 7 or Layer 3?

My view is that RIP, OSPF all run a layer 7 because these protocols have to run Alogiriths such as Dikstra, is that correct? and place these these routes in the routing table, so they build routing tables so routed protocols such as IP, IPX can make the best path selection.

What do you think?

Regards,
zenzippy

As far as I know, Routing protocols definitely run on layer 3. What ever the algorithms they use, they can be all incorporated within layer 3.

It's a bit of a philiosophical question this one. The OSI model and its layers were defined to illustrate and explain the communications process from one network node to another, and so the functions being performed at each layer relate to that process and not to anything else that may be going on. Since routing is, by definition, a layer 3 process under the model, then everything to do with it can be logically bundled together and said to be happening at layer 3. That's the standard approach. You can think differently if it helps you make more sense of the world, but like most philosophical questions it ultimately doesn't matter as long as things actually work

Ok,

Thanks guys
zenzippy