Free CCNA | Static Routing | Day 11 (part 2) | CCNA 200-301 Complete Course

Introduction

In this tutorial, you will learn about static routing as covered in Day 11 (part 2) of the CCNA 200-301 course by Jeremy's IT Lab. Static routing is crucial for managing how data packets travel across networks and is a fundamental concept for aspiring network professionals. This guide will walk you through the key concepts, configuration steps, and practical applications of static routing.

Step 1: Understand Connected and Local Routes

• Connected Routes: These are routes that the router learns from interfaces that are directly connected to the network. They are automatically added to the routing table.
• Local Routes: These represent the IP addresses assigned to the router's interfaces. They are also automatically added to the routing table.

Step 2: Learn About Default Gateway

• The default gateway is the router's IP address that serves as the forwarding host for packets destined for networks outside the local subnet.
• If a device does not have a specific route for a destination, it will send packets to the default gateway.

Step 3: Packet Routing Between Devices

• To route packets between different devices (e.g., PC1 and PC4), ensure that both PCs have a valid IP configuration and are connected to the same network or have routes to reach each other.

Step 4: Plan for Static Routes

• Before configuring static routes, gather the following information:
  • Destination network address
  • Subnet mask
  • Next-hop IP address or exit interface
• Planning helps prevent configuration errors and ensures that all necessary routes are included.

Step 5: Configure Static Routes

1. Access the router's command line interface (CLI).
2. Enter global configuration mode.
3. Use the following command to add a static route:

   ip route [destination network] [subnet mask] [next-hop address or exit interface]
   

   • Example:

   ip route 192.168.2.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1
   

Step 6: Verify PC Communication

• After configuring static routes, test communication between PCs (e.g., ping PC4 from PC1).
• Confirm that packets are being routed properly and that there are no connectivity issues.

Step 7: Understand Exit Interface Configuration

• When configuring static routes, using the next-hop IP address is typically preferred over specifying an exit interface alone.
• Specifying only the exit interface requires the router to use ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) for each packet, which can lead to inefficiencies.

Step 8: Set Up a Default Route

• If you want to direct all traffic to a specific router when no specific route exists, configure a default route:

  ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 [next-hop address]
  

  • This command tells the router to send all unknown traffic to the specified next-hop address.

Conclusion

Static routing is an essential skill for network configuration and management. By understanding connected and local routes, configuring static routes, and verifying communication, you can effectively manage traffic within a network. As you continue your CCNA journey, consider practicing these configurations in a lab environment to solidify your understanding and skills.