OBJECTIVE-4 : Implement network routing and addressing
techniques in computer networks
Routing is the process of determining paths through a network for sending data
packets. It ensures that data moves effectively from source to destination,
making the best use of network resources and ensuring consistent
communication. Routing performed by layer 3 (or network layer) devices to
deliver the packet by choosing an optimal path from one network to another. It
is an autonomous process handled by the network devices to direct a data packet
to its intended destination. The node here refers to a network device called
Router.
Routing is classified into Static Routing, Default Routing, and Dynamic Routing.
In this article, we will see types of routing in detail.
Types of Routing
Routing is typically of 3 types, each serving its purpose and offering different
functionalities.
Static Routing
Definition:
Static routing is a method where network routes are manually configured by a
network administrator. The administrator decides the best paths for data
transmission based on the network topology.
Advantages of Static Routing:
No Router CPU Overhead: Since no dynamic calculations are done, the router
can use cheaper hardware.
Security: The administrator has full control over the network paths, restricting
access to particular networks.
No Bandwidth Usage: Static routing does not require bandwidth between
routers to exchange routing information.
Disadvantages of Static Routing:
Manual Configuration: In large networks, manually configuring each route on
every router can be time-consuming.
Topology Knowledge Requirement: Administrators need a good understanding
of the network's topology. New administrators must be familiar with the
network structure to configure routes correctly.
Example Configuration:
Router R1:
IP Addresses:
172.16.10.6/30 (interface s0/0/1)
192.168.20.1/24 (interface fa0/0)
Static Routes:
ip route 192.168.20.0 255.255.255.0 172.16.10.5
ip route 10.10.10.0 255.255.255.0 172.16.10.5
ip route 172.16.10.0 255.255.255.0 172.16.10.5
Router R2:
IP Addresses:
172.16.10.2/30 (interface s0/0/0)
192.168.10.1/24 (interface fa0/0)
Static Routes:
ip route 192.168.10.0 255.255.255.0 172.16.10.1
ip route 10.10.10.0 255.255.255.0 172.16.10.1
ip route 172.16.10.0 255.255.255.0 172.16.10.1
Router R3:
IP Addresses:
172.16.10.5/30 (interface s0/1)
172.16.10.1/30 (interface s0/0)
10.10.10.1/24 (interface fa0/0)
Static Routes:
ip route 192.168.10.0 255.255.255.0 172.16.10.2
ip route 192.168.20.0 255.255.255.0 172.16.10.6
2. Default Routing
This is the method where the router is configured to send all packets toward a
single router (next hop). It doesn’t matter to which network the packet belongs,
it is forwarded out to the router which is configured for default routing. It is
generally used with stub routers. A stub router is a router that has only one
route to reach all other networks.
Advantages of Default Routing
Default routing provides a “last resort” route for packets that don’t match any
specific route in the routing table. It ensures that packets are not dropped and
can reach their intended destination.
It simplifies network configuration by reducing the need for complex routing
tables.
Default routing improves network reliability and reduces packet loss.
Disadvantages of Default Routing
Relying solely on default routes can lead to inefficient routing, as it doesn’t
consider specific paths.
Using default routes may introduce additional network latency.
Configuration of Dynamic Routing
Using the same topology which we have used for static routing before.
dynamic-routing In this topology, R1 and R2 are stub routers so we can
configure default routing for both these routers. Configuring default routing for
R1:
R1(config)#ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 172.16.10.5
Now configuring default routing for R2:
R2(config)#ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 172.16.10.1
3. Dynamic Routing
Dynamic routing makes automatic adjustments of the routes according to the
current state of the route in the routing table. Dynamic routing uses protocols to
discover network destinations and the routes to reach them. RIP and OSPF are
the best examples of dynamic routing protocols. Automatic adjustments will be
made to reach the network destination if one route goes down. A dynamic
protocol has the following features:
The routers should have the same dynamic protocol running in order to
exchange routes.
When a router finds a change in the topology then the router advertises it to all
other routers.
Advantages of Dynamic Routing
Easy to configure.
More effective at selecting the best route to a destination remote network and
also for discovering remote networks.
Disadvantage of Dynamic Routing
Consumes more bandwidth for communicating with other neighbors.
Less secure than static routing.
SUMMARY :
Implementing effective routing and addressing techniques is crucial for building
robust computer networks. Static and dynamic routing techniques determine
how data packets are forwarded through the network, while various addressing
techniques ensure that devices can communicate effectively using unique
identifiers. Understanding these concepts is essential for designing, managing,
and troubleshooting modern networks.
