well, thing is, i'm trying to do a program which simulates how the RIP routing protocol sends its updates (i.e. a router sending its whole routing table to its neighbors) using only pcs acting as routers. the updates are simple tables of network info which gets swapped in between hosts on regular intervals. i thought the best way to do that is simply to send the database as it is (just like how a real router does it). i hope you, or anyone, could suggest an easier way of doing it than i imagined.

thanks again!