Routing and Switching

James Jefferson S. De Vera

Static Routing
What is Static
Routing?
 Static Routing
● Static Routing: Manual configuration
of routes in a router's routing table.
● Administrator defines the path a
packet will take to reach a specific
destination network.
● Unlike dynamic routing protocols,
static routes do not automatically
adapt to network changes.
 Static Routing
● Static Routing: Manual configuration
of routes in a router's routing table.
● Administrator defines the path a
packet will take to reach a specific
destination network.
● Unlike dynamic routing protocols,
static routes do not automatically
adapt to network changes.
 Static Routing
● Static Routing: Manual configuration
of routes in a router's routing table.
● Administrator defines the path a
packet will take to reach a specific
destination network.
● Unlike dynamic routing protocols,
static routes do not automatically
adapt to network changes.
 Static Routing
● Static Routing: Manual configuration
of routes in a router's routing table.
● Administrator defines the path a
packet will take to reach a specific
destination network.
● Unlike dynamic routing protocols,
static routes do not automatically
adapt to network changes.
 Static Routing: Manual Configuration
In static routing, network
administrators manually
configure routes in a router's
routing table. This means they
explicitly specify the path a data
packet should take to reach a
specific destination network or
host.
Example

Imagine a small business with two branch

offices. An administrator might configure a
static route on the router in Office A that
says, "To reach the network in Office B,
send packets to the IP address of Office B's
router."
 Administrator Defines the Path
This highlights a key difference
between static and dynamic routing. In
dynamic routing, protocols like OSPF or
BGP automatically discover the best
paths and update routing tables
accordingly. With static routing, the
administrator makes those decisions,
providing greater control over traffic
flow.
Example

If an administrator wants to ensure certain

traffic always goes through a specific link for
security or performance reasons, they can
create a static route to enforce that path.
 No Automatic Adaptation

Unlike dynamic routing protocols, static

routes do not automatically adapt to
changes in the network topology. If a
link goes down or a new, more efficient
path becomes available, the static route
remains the same until the
administrator manually updates it.
Example

If the connection between Office A and

Office B goes down, the static route remains
in place. Packets will continue to be sent
toward the failed link, leading to potential
packet loss and disruption.
Key Points to Emphasize

•Static routing is simple to configure in small

networks but can become cumbersome in larger,
more complex environments.
•It offers predictable path control and is less
resource-intensive than dynamic routing.
•The lack of automatic updates makes it less
suitable for networks that experience frequent
changes.
 Advantages of Static Routing

•Security
•Predictability
•Resource Efficiency
 Security

Static routes are inherently more secure than dynamic

routes. Since they are manually configured by a network
administrator, they are not vulnerable to malicious or
erroneous updates from external sources. Dynamic routing
protocols, while efficient, can be exploited by attackers to
inject false routing information, leading to traffic
redirection and potential security breaches.
Example

Imagine a hacker trying to intercept sensitive data

from a company. They could attempt to
compromise a dynamic routing protocol to
redirect traffic to their own malicious server.
However, with static routes, this attack vector is
eliminated as the routes are fixed and cannot be
easily manipulated.
 Predictability

Static routing provides a deterministic path

selection, meaning the path a packet takes is
predetermined and consistent. This predictability
ensures reliable and consistent traffic flow, making
it easier to troubleshoot network issues and
optimize performance.
Example

In a real-time application like video conferencing,

predictable latency and bandwidth are crucial for a
smooth experience. Static routing guarantees a
consistent path for the video and audio data,
minimizing jitter and ensuring a high-quality call.
 Resource Efficiency

Static routes consume significantly fewer router resources

than dynamic routing protocols. Dynamic protocols require
CPU cycles to calculate routes, exchange information with
other routers, and maintain routing tables. In contrast,
static routes are simple entries in a table, requiring
minimal processing power. This makes static routing a
more efficient choice for smaller networks or devices with
limited resources.
Example

A small branch office with a limited budget might choose

static routing for its simplicity and low resource
consumption. This would be more cost-effective than
deploying a complex dynamic routing protocol.
Key Takeaways

•Static routing offers enhanced security, predictable

traffic flow, and efficient resource utilization.
•It is particularly suitable for smaller networks or
environments where security and control are
paramount.
•However, the lack of adaptability and scalability makes
it less ideal for large, dynamic networks.
 Disadvantages of Static Routing

•Administrative Overhead
•Lack of Scalability
•No Fault Tolerance
 Administrative Overhead

Static routing requires manual configuration of

each route on every router in the network. This
involves specifying the destination network, the
subnet mask, and the next-hop IP address for each
route. As networks grow, the number of routes
increases, making manual configuration time-
consuming and prone to errors.
Example

Imagine a network with 50 routers and 100

subnets. Configuring static routes for all possible
destinations would require creating and
maintaining hundreds of individual route entries
on each router. This would be a significant
administrative burden.
 Lack of Scalability

Static routing doesn't scale well with large or

complex networks. As networks expand, the
number of routes increases exponentially.
Manually managing these routes becomes
impractical and increases the risk of
misconfigurations. Additionally, static routes
don't automatically adapt to changes in network
topology, such as the addition of new links or
devices.
Example

Consider a global enterprise network with

thousands of routers and diverse connections.
Managing static routes in such a dynamic
environment would be nearly impossible due to
the sheer volume of configuration changes
required.
 No Fault Tolerance

Static routes lack fault tolerance,

meaning they don't automatically adjust
to network failures. If a link goes down,
the static route pointing to that link
remains in the routing table, leading to
traffic being sent to an unreachable
destination. This can cause network
outages and disrupt critical services.
Example

In our previous example of the two branch offices,

if the link between them fails, the static routes
would still direct traffic towards the failed link,
resulting in communication loss until the
administrator manually reconfigures the routes.
Key Takeaways

•Static routing, while simple and secure, has limitations

that make it less suitable for large, dynamic networks.
•The manual configuration and lack of adaptability can
lead to administrative overhead, scalability issues, and
potential network outages.
•These drawbacks should be carefully considered
when deciding whether to use static or dynamic
routing in a particular network scenario.
 Types of Static Routes

•Default Route
•Standard Static Route
•Summary Route
•Floating Static Route
 Default Route
A default route acts as a safety net
or a "last resort" in a router's routing
table. It is used when no other more
specific route matches the
destination IP address of a packet.
The default route instructs the
router to forward any unmatched
traffic to a designated gateway,
often the router connecting to the
internet or a central hub.
Example
Imagine your home router. It likely has a default
route that sends all your internet traffic to your
ISP's network. When you request a webpage, your
router doesn't know the exact path, but it knows to
send it to the ISP, who then figures out the rest.
 Standard Static Route

The standard static route is the most

basic type. It defines a specific path
for packets destined for a particular
network or subnet. It includes the
destination network address, the
subnet mask, and the IP address of
the next hop router (or the exit
interface).
 Example

In a corporate network, a static route might be

used to direct traffic from the headquarters'
network to a branch office's network. The route
would specify the branch office's network address
and the next-hop router's IP address.
 Summary Route

A summary route (or aggregate

route) consolidates multiple, more
specific routes into a single entry in
the routing table. This simplifies
the routing table and reduces the
amount of memory and processing
power required by the router.
 Example

If a company has several subnets in a branch

office, instead of having individual routes for each
subnet, a summary route can be used to represent
all of them with a single entry. This makes the
routing table more efficient and easier to manage.
 Floating Static Route

A floating static route is a backup

route used when the primary route
fails. It has a higher administrative
distance than the primary route, so
the router will only use it if the
primary route becomes
unavailable.
 Example

A company might have a primary high-speed link

to the internet and a slower backup link. A floating
static route can be configured to use the backup
link if the primary link goes down, ensuring
continued connectivity, albeit at a reduced speed.
 Key Takeaways
•Static routes offer a variety of options to tailor routing
behavior to specific needs.
•Default routes provide a safety net for traffic without
specific routes.
•Standard static routes direct traffic to specific
destinations.
•Summary routes simplify routing tables and reduce
overhead.
•Floating static routes provide redundancy and fault
tolerance.