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Static Routing

Static routing is a method of manually configuring routes in a router’s routing table. In this approach:

  • The network administrator defines the path for data packets manually.

  • Unlike dynamic routing, routers do not automatically learn routes.

  • Dynamic routing uses protocols like RIP and OSPF to discover routes automatically.

Introduction to Router

A router is a networking device that connects multiple computer networks and directs data packets between them.

Key Functions:

  • Operates at Layer 3 (Network Layer) of the OSI model, Analyzes incoming data packets to determine destination address.

  • Determines the best path to forward incoming packets.

  • Facilitates communication between different IP networks.

  • Manages traffic between different IP networks like LANs (Local Area Networks) and the WAN (Wide Area Network).

Cisco Router Configuration Modes:

ModePromptDescription
User EXEC ModeRouter>Basic monitoring commands
Privileged EXEC ModeRouter#Full access to show and debug commands
Global Config ModeRouter(config)#Configure global router settings
Interface Config ModeRouter(config-if)#Configure individual interfaces

For Modes of Cisco Router Configuration

Cisco routers operate through a hierarchical command-line interface with different modes, each serving specific purposes in configuration and monitoring. The four primary configuration modes are:

1. User EXEC Mode

  • Prompt: Router>

  • Access Level: Basic user access; read-only.

  • Entered by: Logging into the router.

  • Purpose: Basic monitoring and diagnostics. No configuration allowed.

  • Exit: Type logout or exit.

Common Commands:

  • ping 8.8.8.8 – Test connectivity to a remote host.

  • traceroute 8.8.8.8 – Show the path packets take to Google DNS.

  • show version – Display IOS version and system information.

  • show ip interface brief – Summarize interfaces and statuses.

  • ? – View available commands.


2. Privileged EXEC Mode

  • Prompt: Router#

  • Access Level: Full read access and limited write access.

  • Entered by: Typing enable from User EXEC Mode.

  • Purpose: View detailed configuration, debug, and access all operational commands.

  • Exit: Use disable to return to User EXEC Mode.

Common Commands:

  • show running-config – Display current configuration.

  • show startup-config – View saved configuration in NVRAM.

  • copy running-config startup-config – Save current configuration.

  • reload – Reboot the router.

  • debug [option] – Enable troubleshooting/debugging.

  • configure terminal – Enter Global Configuration Mode.

  • Ctrl + Z – Return to Privileged EXEC Mode from any configuration mode.


3. Global Configuration Mode

  • Prompt: Router(config)#

  • Access Level: Full write access to system-wide settings.

  • Entered by: Typing configure terminal from Privileged EXEC Mode.

  • Purpose: Modify global device configurations.

  • Exit: Use exit to return to Privileged EXEC Mode or Ctrl + Z.

Common Commands:

  • hostname CoreRouter – Change the device name.

  • enable secret [password] – Set encrypted Privileged EXEC password.

  • line console 0 / line vty 0 4 – Configure console/remote access.

  • interface FastEthernet0/0 – Enter Interface Configuration Mode.

  • ip route [dest] [mask] [next-hop] – Add static routes.

  • ip route 10.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 192.168.1.2 — Add static route to 10.0.0.0 via 192.168.1.2

  • banner motd #Message# – Set login banner message.


4. Interface Configuration Mode

  • Prompt: Router(config-if)#

  • Access Level: Modify settings specific to an interface.

  • Entered by: From Global Config Mode: interface [type] [number]
    (e.g., interface FastEthernet0/0)

  • Purpose: Configure individual router interfaces (IP, speed, duplex).

  • Exit: Use exit to return to Global Configuration Mode.

Common Commands:

  • ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0 – Assign IP address.

  • no shutdown – Enable the interface (bring it up).

  • shutdown – Disable the interface.

  • description Link-to-Switch1 – Label interface.

  • duplex full – Set full-duplex communication.

  • speed 100 – Set speed to 100 Mbps.


Useful Keyboard Shortcuts and CLI Tips

ShortcutFunction
TABAuto-complete the current command.
?Display available commands or options.
Ctrl + CCancel current command or operation.
Ctrl + ZExit to Privileged EXEC Mode.
UP/DOWN arrowsScroll through command history.
SHOW ?List all "show" command options.

Static Routing Configuration Example

Configure static routing between R1 and R2 using FastEthernet interfaces.

Network Diagram Details

RouterInterfaceIP AddressNetwork
R1FastEthernet0/010.0.0.110.0.0.0/8
R1FastEthernet0/120.0.0.120.0.0.0/8
R2FastEthernet0/020.0.0.220.0.0.0/8
R2FastEthernet0/130.0.0.130.0.0.0/8

Interconnecting Network (between R1 and R2): 20.0.0.0/8


Configuration Steps

Static Route Syntax

bash
ip route <destination-network> <subnet-mask> <next-hop-IP>

R1 Configuration

bash
R1# configure terminal
R1(config)# interface fastethernet0/0
R1(config-if)# ip address 10.0.0.1 255.0.0.0
R1(config-if)# no shutdown
R1(config-if)# exit

R1(config)# interface fastethernet0/1
R1(config-if)# ip address 20.0.0.1 255.0.0.0
R1(config-if)# no shutdown
R1(config-if)# no shutdown
R1(config-if)# exit

R1(config)# ip route 30.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 20.0.0.2

R1(config)# show ip route
R1# show ip interface brief

R2 Configuration

bash
R2# configure terminal
R2(config)# interface fastethernet0/0
R2(config-if)# ip address 20.0.0.2 255.0.0.0
R2(config-if)# no shutdown
R2(config-if)# exit

R2(config)# interface fastethernet0/1
R2(config-if)# ip address 30.0.0.1 255.0.0.0
R2(config-if)# no shutdown
R2(config-if)# exit

R2(config)# ip route 10.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 20.0.0.1

R2(config)# show ip route
R2# show ip interface brief

Expected Outcome

  • All interfaces should be in up/up state after using no shutdown.

  • R1 and R2 should successfully ping each other's LAN IPs:

    • From R1: ping 30.0.0.1

    • From R2: ping 10.0.0.1

  • show ip route should display manually configured static routes.

  • show ip interface brief should confirm correct IP assignments and interface status.

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