Static Routes - Ovislink OV804WV User Manual

4.4.6.2 Static Routes

Networking devices forward packets using route information
that is either manually configured or dynamically learned using
a routing protocol. Static routes are manually configured and
define an explicit path between two networking devices. Unlike
a dynamic routing protocol, static routes are not automatically
updated and must be manually reconfigured if the network
topology changes. The benefits of using static routes include
security and resource efficiency. Static routes use less
bandwidth than dynamic routing protocols and no CPU cycles
are used to calculate and communicate routes. The main
disadvantage to using static routes is the lack of automatic
reconfiguration if the network topology changes.
Static routes can be redistributed into dynamic routing
protocols but routes generated by dynamic routing protocols
cannot be redistributed into the static routing table. No
algorithm exists to prevent the configuration of routing loops
that use static routes.
Static routes are useful for smaller networks with only one path
to an outside network and to provide security for a larger
network for certain types of traffic or links to other networks that
need more control. In general, most networks use dynamic
routing protocols to communicate between networking devices
but may have one or two static routes configured for special
cases.
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