Chapter 15 / 15.5 / 15.5.2

15.5.2 Static And Dynamic Routing

Routing information may be configured in two different ways.

In static routing, network administrators manually enter routing information into each router. Static routes are simple, predictable, and consume very little processing power. They are well suited to small or stable networks where the network topology changes infrequently.

As networks become larger, however, manually maintaining routing tables becomes increasingly impractical. Modern networks therefore rely primarily on dynamic routing, in which routers automatically exchange routing information with one another and continuously update their routing tables as network conditions change.

If a communication link fails, neighbouring routers automatically discover the failure and calculate alternative paths through the network. This capability allows large internetworks to continue operating despite equipment failures or changing traffic conditions.