Free CCNA | Configuring Static Routes | Day 11 Lab 1 | CCNA 200-301 Complete Course

Introduction

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to configure static routes on Cisco routers as part of the CCNA 200-301 curriculum. Static routing is a crucial skill for network administrators, allowing them to manually set routes to direct packets through a network. This step-by-step guide will provide clear instructions to help you understand and implement static routing effectively.

Step 1: Accessing the Router

1. Open Packet Tracer: Start by launching Cisco Packet Tracer.
2. Add a Router: Drag and drop a Cisco router onto the workspace.

Access the CLI

• Click on the router icon.
• Navigate to the "CLI" tab to access the command line interface.
• Wait for the prompt to appear.

Step 2: Entering Global Configuration Mode

Enter Privileged EXEC Mode

• Type enable and press Enter.

Access Global Configuration Mode

• Type configure terminal and press Enter.
• The prompt should change to indicate you are in global configuration mode.

Step 3: Configuring Static Routes

1. Identify the Network: Determine the destination network and the next-hop IP address for your static route.

Add a Static Route

• Use the following command structure:

  ip route [destination_network] [subnet_mask] [next_hop_ip]
  

• For example, to route traffic to the network 192.168.2.0 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 via the next hop 192.168.1.1, enter:

  ip route 192.168.2.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1
  

Verify the Configuration

• Exit to the privileged EXEC mode by typing exit.
• Use the command show ip route to display the routing table and verify that your static route has been added.

Step 4: Testing the Configuration

1. Ping the Destination:

   • From the router's CLI, type ping 192.168.2.1 (assuming 192.168.2.1 is a reachable IP in the destination network).
   • Confirm successful pings to ensure that routing is working correctly.

2. Troubleshoot if Necessary:

   • If the ping fails, double-check your static route configuration.
   • Verify that the next-hop IP is reachable and that there are no firewall rules blocking the traffic.

Conclusion

You've successfully configured static routes on a Cisco router. This foundational skill is essential for effective network management. As you progress, consider practicing more complex routing scenarios, such as dynamic routing protocols. For additional resources, explore Packet Tracer labs or consider taking a comprehensive CCNA course to deepen your understanding.