CCNA Certification Training: Configuring Static Routes On A Cisco Router
- Date: 2006-11-29 - Word Count: 371
Share This!
The great thing about CCNA certification training is that the skills you learn will truly come in handy when working with Cisco routers and switches in production networks. That's particularly true of static route configuration. While most networks use dynamic routing protocols such as RIP, EIGRP, and OSPF to build routing tables, static routes still come in handy sometimes - especially if a routing protocol configuration goes awry.
Let's say that you just added a new segment to your network and you've successfully added it to your network's routing tables. Suddenly, on Monday morning, users on that segment can't get to a network resource such as an email server, or they can't get out to the Internet. We all know what it's like to try to fix something while the phone's ringing like crazy. That's when we have to do two things.
First, resist the temptation to say "I would fix it, but I'm too busy talking to you".
Second, use a quick fix to get the issue resolved temporarily while you resolve the issue.
Static routes are a great quick fix. You can use a static route to get the users where they need to be, which gives you time to find out what the problem is with the dynamic routing protocol. (You must also resist the temptation to apply a static route and declare the problem fixed!)
Static routes are configured with the ip route command, followed by the destination network and mask. After that, you must specify either the next-hop IP address or the local exit interface. Both of the following masks are acceptable:
ip route 172.10.1.0 255.255.255.0 210.1.1.1
ip route 172.10.1.0 255.255.255.0 serial0
Using IOS Help on a Cisco router shows the various options:
R1(config)#ip route ?
A.B.C.D Destination prefix
profile Enable IP routing table profile
vrf Configure static route for a VPN Routing/Forwarding instance
R1(config)#ip route 172.10.1.0 ?
A.B.C.D Destination prefix mask
R1(config)#ip route 172.10.1.0 255.255.255.0 ?
A.B.C.D Forwarding router's address
BRI ISDN Basic Rate Interface
Dialer Dialer interface
Loopback Loopback interface
Null Null interface
Serial Serial
TokenRing IEEE 802.5
Remember, you're specifying either the next-hop router's IP address or the local router's exit interface!
Configuring static routes is a great skill to have in the network room and in the CCNA exam room. Be ready to configure them in either situation!
Let's say that you just added a new segment to your network and you've successfully added it to your network's routing tables. Suddenly, on Monday morning, users on that segment can't get to a network resource such as an email server, or they can't get out to the Internet. We all know what it's like to try to fix something while the phone's ringing like crazy. That's when we have to do two things.
First, resist the temptation to say "I would fix it, but I'm too busy talking to you".
Second, use a quick fix to get the issue resolved temporarily while you resolve the issue.
Static routes are a great quick fix. You can use a static route to get the users where they need to be, which gives you time to find out what the problem is with the dynamic routing protocol. (You must also resist the temptation to apply a static route and declare the problem fixed!)
Static routes are configured with the ip route command, followed by the destination network and mask. After that, you must specify either the next-hop IP address or the local exit interface. Both of the following masks are acceptable:
ip route 172.10.1.0 255.255.255.0 210.1.1.1
ip route 172.10.1.0 255.255.255.0 serial0
Using IOS Help on a Cisco router shows the various options:
R1(config)#ip route ?
A.B.C.D Destination prefix
profile Enable IP routing table profile
vrf Configure static route for a VPN Routing/Forwarding instance
R1(config)#ip route 172.10.1.0 ?
A.B.C.D Destination prefix mask
R1(config)#ip route 172.10.1.0 255.255.255.0 ?
A.B.C.D Forwarding router's address
BRI ISDN Basic Rate Interface
Dialer Dialer interface
Loopback Loopback interface
Null Null interface
Serial Serial
TokenRing IEEE 802.5
Remember, you're specifying either the next-hop router's IP address or the local router's exit interface!
Configuring static routes is a great skill to have in the network room and in the CCNA exam room. Be ready to configure them in either situation!
Related Tags: certification, training, ccna, cisco, static, protocol, router, default, mask, route, interface
Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of over 100 free certification exam tutorials, including Cisco CCNA certification test prep articles. His exclusive Cisco CCNA study guide and Cisco CCNA training is also available!Visit his blog and sign up for Cisco Certification Central, a daily newsletter packed with CCNA, Network+, Security+, A+, and CCNP certification exam practice questions! A free 7-part course, "How To Pass The CCNA", is also available, and you can attend an in-person or online CCNA boot camp with The Bryant Advantage! Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- What Is An Sd Card? What Are Main Types Of Sd Cards
Manufactured as a competition offering to Sony's Memory Stick, the SD Card was developed by the SD C - Industrial Computers
In this day and age you can't afford to run an industry efficiently without a computer as it plays a - Computer Fix Services - Tips To Choose Good Quality Personal Computer Maintenance Online
Online computer repair services have become a fast and reliable problem solution for day to day tech - Reverse Engineering Romer For Aerospace
One of the most amazing things about reverse engineering is its significant contribution in any fiel - How To Buy The Best Projector Bulb
It is very important for you to know the right time to change the projector bulb before it will burn - Laptops Vs Desktops- Their Significance
Computers obviously are commonly used for more or less everything from entertainment to office work. - Cooling Your Laptop
It is common knowledge that laptops are commonly used by everyone but one must also know how to take - Dymo Labelwriter Fast Performance & Reliability
I don't think I'm the only one who has gotten tired of trips to the post office, standing in endless - Buying Dell Laptops A Long Time Investment
Today if you go to an office or a school, Dell laptops can be seen very commonly. Though we do not b - Hard Drives - Digital Space
The first hard drives (Hard Disk Drives, HDD) were developed by IBM in 1956. Since then the need for
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Video Killed the Beautiful View
"The sound brought our group to a stop; we turned around to see the ice mass collapse with a roar. A - Crossfire: The Dual GPU System Gamers Want
CrossFire is the new dual graphics card system from ATI. It offers remarkable image quality improvem - Canon PIXMA IP1600 Photo Printer Review & Its True Cost of Ownership
With Canon PIXMA iP1600 Inkjet Printer you can make high quality photo printings at home. No need to - Basic Information about Nero Burn DVD
Nero is a popular burning ROM designed to burn DVD's. The way this product got its name is very inte - The Development of the Vital IBM PC in Spite of the Corporate Culture of IBM
The public history of the PC began in August 1981, when IBM first announced "The IBM Personal Comput - PC Repairs
PC Repairs are often needed when we need our computer the most. One way to take away many problems o - Affordable Computer Printer Ink
The computer - once considered a luxury item - has easily become a staple in today's modern homes; a - Build your Own PC
Build your own PC! Simple and Fun. Just follow these instructions and you're on your way to a rel - Extending the Life of an Inkjet Printer with Proper Cleaning and Maintenance
Inkjet printers are becoming another "throw away" electronic device due to reducing costs and high i - Check Printers
A check printer is a printer that hooks up to a computer that has the capability of printing checks.