static routing with Connecting 4 routers with explanation | Cisco Packet Tracer Tutorial 3

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of setting up static routing in Cisco Packet Tracer by connecting four routers and configuring various end devices. By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to assign IP addresses, configure routers, and establish communication between devices in your network.

Step 1: Set Up the Network Topology

• Launch Cisco Packet Tracer.
• Drag and drop four routers onto the workspace.
• Connect the routers using serial cables:
  • Router 1 to Router 2
  • Router 2 to Router 3
  • Router 3 to Router 4
  • Connect Router 1 to Router 3 for redundancy (optional).

Tips

• Use the appropriate interface types for connections (e.g., Serial interfaces).
• Ensure all routers are properly connected to avoid communication issues.

Step 2: Configure Router Interfaces

• Click on each router and enter the configuration mode.
• Assign IP addresses to the interfaces:
  • For Router 1:

    Interface S0/0
    IP address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
    

  • For Router 2:

    Interface S0/0
    IP address 192.168.1.2 255.255.255.0
    

  • For Router 3:

    Interface S0/0
    IP address 192.168.1.3 255.255.255.0
    

  • For Router 4:

    Interface S0/0
    IP address 192.168.1.4 255.255.255.0
    

Practical Advice

• Use the no shutdown command to activate the interfaces after configuration.
• Double-check IP addresses and subnet masks for accuracy.

Step 3: Configure Static Routing

• On each router, enter the static routes to enable communication between them.
• Example for Router 1:

  ip route 192.168.1.2 255.255.255.0 S0/0
  ip route 192.168.1.3 255.255.255.0 S0/1
  ip route 192.168.1.4 255.255.255.0 S0/2
  

• Repeat similar commands for Router 2, Router 3, and Router 4, adjusting destination networks accordingly.

Common Pitfalls

• Ensure that the static routes correctly point to the next-hop IP addresses.
• Verify that all routers have routes to reach each other.

Step 4: Configure End Devices

• Add PCs or laptops to the workspace, connecting them to routers as required.
• Assign IP addresses to each end device in the same subnet as the router they are connected to.

Example for a PC connected to Router 1:

• IP Address: 192.168.1.10
• Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
• Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1

Step 5: Test Connectivity

• Open the command prompt on each PC.
• Use the ping command to test connectivity between devices:

  ping 192.168.1.2  # From PC connected to Router 1 to Router 2
  

Practical Tips

• If pings fail, check for misconfigured IP addresses and routing entries.
• Ensure the devices are powered on and correctly connected.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you successfully set up a static routing network using Cisco Packet Tracer with four routers and several end devices. You learned how to configure router interfaces, set static routes, and test connectivity. As a next step, consider exploring dynamic routing protocols for more complex networks or experimenting with different network topologies.