Large IP networks cannot be possible without routing protocols providing the appropriate paths between end sites. Many interior gateway routing protocols have been developed based on well known algorithms for IP networks in order to prevent routing loops. Some of these interior gateway routing protocols are RIP, OSPF and EIGRP. Each one of them has its benefits and drawbacks, and the best election depends on many parameters such as the network features, network hardware, few bandwidth wastage, scalability, costs, etc. In this paper we present a survey and a test performance of the main interior gateway IP routing protocols (although some of them can work with other non-IP protocols) that are used inside the Autonomous Systems. We will see which one provides the lowest delay path, the lowest number of hops, the lowest convergence time, and how the traffic sent through the network have different behavior depending on the routing protocol running in it, among others. Finally, we will conclude our paper providing some advises to the IP network designers and administrators. This work will help them to take the best election depending on their case.