Routing, Static Routing, Dynamic Routing

What is static routing?

Static Routing is a type of routing which occurs when a router sends and receives information using a manually configured entry system. This means that the way in which the router chooses which path to send data down is determined by a code which is entered manually in the routing table.

This is a very simple way of routing data, and works well when only one router is available to a number of workstations. This type of routing is also used when security may be an issue, as it means data routes are kept hidden to everybody except the host, and are not publically accessible to other users.

Static routes use fixed paths to transmit data, which means that when a fault occurs, data will not automatically be rerouted unless the path is repaired. Because of this, static routes are not always the best choice for a complex network which is likely to encounter faults. It can however simplify networks sometimes, as static routes never change or time out.

  • What is dynamic routing?

Dynamic Routing (also called Adaptive Routing) is another type of routing which occurs when routers send and receive information using a system which learns about the different destinations on the network and decide at run time which is the best one to use. This means that the way in which the router sends data changes depending on which is the best route to use for that particular data, and for which sections of the network are working correctly and can be reached easily.

This type of routing is often supported by software applications connected to the router, as it is a more complex way of transmitting data and requires extra computing support. It is beneficial for complex systems which are expecting to encounter faults occasionally, since it takes into account network and device failures and can work around them without constant need for repair.

However, dynamic routing makes data routes public and advertises them to the other routers in the network in order to transmit data more efficiently. This means that it may not be suitable in cases where security is very important and data routes must be hidden to everybody except the host or administrator of a network.

  • What is routing table?

A Routing Table is a set of rules used by routers to make decisions about where and how to send data over a connected network. It stores information about how networks and subnets can be reached. Both IP Routers and other routers use these tables, since all routers perform some sort of routing on the network and need to transfer data across the network.

The routing table determines both how far away the destination IP address is that the data is being sent to (known as the ‘next hop’), as well as how it is going to be sent. This involves information about how efficient each possible path is, which routes are available for access, and the interface that the device needs to use to forward the data properly.

If the network used Dynamic Routing, the routing table will ‘listen’ to the issues and problems on the network, and update the information to adapt to this and get around problems. The table also contains information about the origins of the data, as well as where it is going. The routing table is constructed by routing protocols and static routes.

  • What is hybrid routing protocol?

Hybrid Routing Protocol (also known as Balanced-Hybrid Routing) is a set of rules which controls how network gateways decide which way to route data across a network. It combines several types of protocol features from Distance Vector Routing (DVPR) and Link State Routing Protocol (LSRP) in order to combine the best features of both.

Hybrid Routing Protocol requires less memory and computer processing energy than other protocol types, and integrates reactive and proactive response techniques over a network. This means it can establish a data transmission network easily and segment networks into different zones, but also include features such as connecting neighbouring routing tables together for effective communication and using algorithms to adapt protocols to the optimum state they would work best in.

This ensures a more accurate way of determining paths for data, and limiting the amount of data reported on the network when everything is running smoothly. One example of this type of protocol is an Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), an open-standard protocol developed in 2013 for use on IP routers.

  • What is routing metric and ‘next hop’ in routing concept?

Routing metric is one of the fields contained within a routing table that is used to make decisions about how and where to send data across a network. It can contain a number of important values and statistics which help to the router determine which path is the most appropriate for the data to be sent across.

These can include the dependability of the path, any delays which are known to exist on the path or are caused by a data packet, or the length of any one path. Next Hop Resolution Protocol (NHRP) is used to improve how efficient a router is, and determines how many ‘next hops’ across subnetworks are necessary to transmit data to its eventual destination in one piece.

This protocol is usually associated with Non-Broadcast Multiple Access networks, a type of network which has multiple users and devices, but uses a dedicated communications circuit to transmit data securely across the network.

Read more

    Free Cisco CCNA Study Guide

Free Practice Tests