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Static Routing Configuration Guide
Resources
with Examples
Configuring static routing in Cisco Packet Tracer involves manually defining
routes on routers to enable communication between different networks.
Steps for Static Routing Configuration:
Design the Network Topology:
Place routers, switches, and end devices (PCs, laptops) on the Packet Tracer
workspace.
Connect devices with appropriate cables (e.g., straight-through for PC to switch,
crossover for switch to switch or router to router, serial for router to router WAN links).
Configure IP Addresses:
End Devices: Assign static IP addresses, subnet masks, and default gateways (the IP
address of the connected router interface) to all PCs and laptops.
Router Interfaces: Access the router's CLI (Command Line Interface).
Enter global configuration mode: enable, then configure terminal.
Navigate to the specific interface (e.g., interface GigabitEthernet0/0 or interface
Serial0/0/0).
Assign an IP address and subnet mask: ip address <IP_address> <subnet_mask> .
Activate the interface: no shutdown.
(For serial interfaces) Set the clock rate on one side of the serial link: clock rate
<rate> (e.g., clock rate 64000).
Configure Static Routes:
On each router, define static routes for all networks that are not directly connected to
that router.
The command syntax is: ip route <destination_network>
<destination_subnet_mask> <next_hop_IP_address_or_exit_interface>
Destination Network: The IP address of the remote network you want to reach.
Destination Subnet Mask: The subnet mask of the remote network.
Next-Hop IP Address: The IP address of the neighboring router's interface that is
directly connected to the current router and leads towards the destination network.
Exit Interface: Alternatively, you can specify the outgoing interface of the current
router that leads towards the destination network (e.g., Serial0/0/0). Using the next-
hop IP is generally preferred for stability.
Verify Connectivity:
Use the ping command from end devices to test connectivity to other devices,
including those in different networks.
Use the show ip route command on routers to verify that the static routes have been
successfully added to the routing table (indicated by an 'S' in the output).
Use traceroute to observe the path packets take through the network.
This tutorial explains how to configure static routing on routers. Learn how to create and manage
static routes on routers through a packet tracer example.
Static routes are the routes you manually add to the router’s routing table. The process of adding
static routes to the routing table is known as static routing. Let’s take a packet tracer example to
understand how to use static routing to create and add a static route to the routing table.
Setting up a practice lab
Create a packet tracer lab as shown in the following image or download the following pre-
created lab and load it on Packet Tracer.
Packet Tracer Lab with Initial IP Configuration
In this lab, each network has two routes to reach. We will configure one route as the main route
and another route as the backup route. If the link bandwidth of all routes is the same, we use the
route that has the least number of routers as the main route. If the link bandwidth and the number
of routers are the same, we can use any route as the main route and another route as the backup
route.
If we specify two routes for the same destination, the router automatically selects the best route
for the destination and adds the route to the routing table. If you manually want to select a route
that the router should add to the routing table, you have to set the AD value of the route lower
than other routes. For example, if you use the following commands to create two static routes for
network 30.0.0/8, the route will place the first route to the routing table.
#ip route 30.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 20.0.0.2 10
#ip route 30.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 40.0.0.2 20
If the first route fails, the router automatically adds the second route to the routing table.
Creating, adding, verifying static routes
Routers automatically learn their connected networks. We only need to add routes for the
networks that are not available on the router’s interfaces. For example, network 10.0.0.0/8,
20.0.0.0/8 and 40.0.0.0/8 are directly connected to Router0. Thus, we don’t need to configure
routes for these networks. Network 30.0.0.0/8 and network 50.0.0.0/8 are not available on
Router0. We have to create and add routes only for these networks.
The following table lists the connected networks of each router.
Router Available networks on local interfaces Networks available on other routers
Router0 10.0.0.0/8, 20.0.0.0/8, 40.0.0.0/8 30.0.0.0/8, 50.0.0.0/8
Router1 20.0.0.0/8, 30.0.0.0/8, 50.0.0.0/8 10.0.0.0/8, 40.0.0.0/8
Router2 40.0.0.0/8, 50.0.0.0/8 10.0.0.0/8, 20.0.0.0/8, 30.0.0.0/8
Let's create static routes on each router for networks that are not available on the router.
Router0 requirements
Create two routes for network 30.0.0.0/8 and configure the first route (via -Router1) as the main
route and the second route (via-Router2) as a backup route.
Create two routes for the host 30.0.0.100/8 and configure the first route (via -Router2) as the
main route and the second route (via-Router1) as a backup route.
Create two routes for network 50.0.0.0/8 and configure the first route (via -Router2) as the main
route and the second route (via-Router1) as a backup route.
Verify the router adds only main routes to the routing table.
Router0 configuration
Access the CLI prompt of Router0 and run the following commands.
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router(config)#ip route 30.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 20.0.0.2 10
Router(config)#ip route 30.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 40.0.0.2 20
Router(config)#ip route 30.0.0.100 255.255.255.255 40.0.0.2 10
Router(config)#ip route 30.0.0.100 255.255.255.255 20.0.0.2 20
Router(config)#ip route 50.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 40.0.0.2 10
Router(config)#ip route 50.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 20.0.0.2 20
Router(config)#exit
Router#show ip route static
30.0.0.0/8 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
S 30.0.0.0/8 [10/0] via 20.0.0.2
S 30.0.0.100/32 [10/0] via 40.0.0.2
S 50.0.0.0/8 [10/0] via 40.0.0.2
Router#
Router1 requirements
Create two routes for network 10.0.0.0/8 and configure the first route (via -Router0) as the main
route and the second route (via-Router1) as a backup route.
Create two routes for network 40.0.0.0/8 and configure the first route (via -Router0) as the main
route and the second route (via-Router2) as a backup route.
Verify the router adds only main routes to the routing table.
Router1 configuration
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router(config)#ip route 10.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 20.0.0.1 10
Router(config)#ip route 10.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 50.0.0.1 20
Router(config)#ip route 40.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 20.0.0.1 10
Router(config)#ip route 40.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 50.0.0.1 20
Router(config)#exit
Router#show ip route static
S 10.0.0.0/8 [10/0] via 20.0.0.1
S 40.0.0.0/8 [10/0] via 20.0.0.1
Router#
Router2 requirements
Create static routes for network 10.0.0.0/8 and network 30.0.0.0/8 and verify the router adds both
routes to the routing table.
Router2 configuration
Router>enable
Router#configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router(config)#ip route 10.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 40.0.0.1
Router(config)#ip route 30.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 50.0.0.2
Router(config)#exit
Router#show ip route static
S 10.0.0.0/8 [1/0] via 40.0.0.1
S 30.0.0.0/8 [1/0] via 50.0.0.2
Router#
Verifying static routing
On Router0, we configured two routes for network 30.0.0.0/8. These routes are via Router1 and
via Router2. We set the first route (via-Router1) as the main route and the second route as the
backup route. We can verify this configuration in two ways.
By sending ping requests to a PC of network 30.0.0.0/8 and tracing the path they take to reach
the network 30.0.0.0/8. For this, you can use 'tracert' command on a PC of network 10.0.0.0/8.
The 'tracert' command sends ping requests to the destination host and tracks the path they take
to reach the destination.
By listing the routing table entries on Router0. Since a router uses the routing table to forward
data packets, you can check the routing table to figure out the route the router uses to forward
data packets for each destination.
The following image shows the above testing.
We also configured a separate static host route for the host 30.0.0.100/8. The router must use this
route to forward data packets to the host 30.0.0.100/8. To verify this, you can do the same testing
for the host 30.0.0.100/8.
The following image shows this testing.
We also configured a backup route for network 30.0.0.0/8. The router must put the backup route
to the routing table and use it to forward data packets to network 30.0.0.0/8 when the main route
fails. To verify this, we have to simulate the failure of the main route.
To simulate the failure of the main route, you can delete the link between Router0 and Router1.
After deleting the link, do the same testing again for the network 30.0.0.0/8.
The following link provides the configured packet tracer lab of the above example.
Packet Tracer Lab with Static Routing Configuration
Deleting a static route
To delete a static route, use the following steps.
Use the 'show ip route static' command to print all static routes.
Note down the route you want to delete.
Use the 'no ip route' command to delete the route.
If you have a backup route, the backup route becomes the main route when you delete the main
route.
In our example, we have a backup route and a main route for the host 30.0.0.100/8. The
following image shows how to delete both routes.
That’s all for this tutorial. In this tutorial, we discussed static routing and learned how to create,
add, and manage static routes on the router.
By ComputerNetworkingNotes Updated on 2025-06-24
ComputerNetworkingNotes CCNA Study Guide Static Routing Configuration Guide with
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