Cisco Exploration 2 Module 8 The Routing Table: A Closer Look Jim Johnston Class Notes April 21, 2008

8 The routing table is viewable within a Cisco router by entering show ip route. Three types of entries you will find are: Directly connected networks Static networks Dynamic networks

Level 1 Routes A level 1 route is a route with a subnet mask equal to or less than the classful mask of the network address. The following are sources for level 1 routes. Default route Supernet route Network route Ultimate Routes An ultimate route can be either Level 1 or Level 2 routes and has either or both of the following, a next-hop IP address exit interface Parent Routes A parent route is not an ultimate route. Level 2 Routes A level 2 route is a route that is a subnet of a classful network address. The following are sources for level 2 routes. Default route Supernet route Network route A child route is a level 2 route. A child route is an ultimate route.

Two or more child networks with different subnets masks belonging to the same parent network will be listed as variably subnetted. Routing Process When a packet arrives at the router, the router makes its path decision in this order. 1. Search Layer 1 Ultimate Routes 2. Search Layer 1 Parent Routes a. Search Layer 2 Ultimate Routes of Parent 3. If classful routing a. Discard 4. Else search Layer 1 Ultimate Routes without subnets. 5. Discard The router when presented with multiple route possibilities must choose the best match. The best match is also known as the longest match. The route with the most number of equivalent left-most bits is always the preferred route and known as the longest match. Prior to IOS 11.3 the default behavior for Cisco routers was no ip classless. When no ip classless is set default routes are ignored. All routers running IOS 11.3 or more current are configured as ip classless. This setting can be changed inside the global configurations. Note: A router will not choose the default route if the router is not searching in the ip classless mode.