Static Routing Lab
Learn when and why to use static routes versus OSPF — configure default routes, floating backups, IPv6 static routes, and read routing tables with animated packet walks.
Static Routing Lab
IPv4/IPv6 static routes, default routes, floating backups, and static + OSPF — with animated packet walks.
Static Route
A manually configured route. The router does not learn it from a routing protocol.
Static routes are advantageous when
- The network is small.
- The destination is a stub network.
- You need a simple default route to the internet.
- You want predictable control or a backup route.
- You do not want routing protocol overhead.
- There is only one path.
Dynamic routing is better when
- The network has many routers or changing routes.
- There are multiple possible paths.
- Automatic failover matters.
- You do not want to manually update every router.
- The topology changes often.
Static routes are ideal when the path is simple, stable, or intentionally controlled. Routing protocols are ideal when the network is larger, dynamic, or has many possible paths. Default routes are commonly used at the edge to send unknown destinations toward an ISP.
Verification commands
show ip routeDisplays the IPv4 routing table.
show ip route staticDisplays only static IPv4 routes.
show running-config | include ip routeShows configured IPv4 static route lines.
show ipv6 routeDisplays the IPv6 routing table.
show ipv6 route staticDisplays only static IPv6 routes.
show running-config | include ipv6 routeShows configured IPv6 static route lines.
ping / ping ipv6Tests reachability.
traceroute / traceroute ipv6Shows the path traffic takes toward a destination.