Chapter Troubleshoot Static
03 and Default Routes
Module Objectives
Module Title: Troubleshoot Static and Default Routes
Module Objective: Troubleshoot static and default route configurations.
Topic Title Topic Objective
Packet Processing with Static Routes Explain how a router processes packets
when a static route is configured.
Troubleshoot IPv4 Static and Default Troubleshoot common static and default
Route Configuration route configuration issues.
3.1 Packet Processing with Static Routes
Static Routes and Packet Forwarding
• PC1 addresses a packet to PC3 and sends it to
the default gateway address.
• When the packet arrives on the R1 G0/0/0
interface, R1 decapsulates the packet and
searches the routing table for a matching
destination network entry.
If the destination IP address:
• Matches a static route entry, R1 will use the static route to identify the next-hop IP
address or exit interface.
• Does not match a specific route to the destination network, then R1 will use the
default static route (if configured).
• Does not match a route table entry, then R1 will drop the packet and send an ICMP
message back to the source (i.e., PC1).
Static Routes and Packet Forwarding (Cont.)
Assuming R1 matched a routing table entry, it
encapsulates the packet in a new frame and
forwards it out of interface S0/1/0 to R2.
• R2 receives the packet on its S0/1/0
interface.
• It decapsulates and processes the packet
the same way R1 did.
• When R2 finds a match in the routing table,
it uses the identified next-hop IP address or
exit interface and sends the packet out of its
interface S0/1/1 towards R3.
Static Routes and Packet Forwarding (Cont.)
• R3 receives the packet, decapsulates it, and
searches the routing table for a match.
• The destination IP address of PC3 matches the
directly connected G0/0/0 interface. Therefore,
R3 searches the ARP table for the Layer 2 MAC
address of PC3.
• If no ARP entry exists, then R3 sends an ARP
request out of the G0/0/0 interface.
• PC3 responds with an ARP reply containing its MAC address.
• R3 encapsulates the packet in a new frame and uses the PC3 MAC address as the
destination MAC address and the G0/0/0 MAC address as the source MAC address.
• The frame is forwarded out of interface G0/0/0 and PC3 receives and processes it
accordingly.
3.2 Troubleshoot IPv4 Static and Default
Route Configuration
Network Changes
Networks fail for a number of reasons:
• An interface can fail
• A service provider drops a connection
• Links can become oversaturated
• An administrator may enter a wrong configuration.
Network administrators are responsible for pinpointing and solving the
problem.
To efficiently find and solve these issues, it is advantageous to be intimately
familiar with tools to help isolate routing problems quickly.
Common Troubleshooting Commands
Command Description
ping • Verify Layer 3 connectivity to destination.
• Extended pings provide additional options.
traceroute • Verify path to destination network.
• It uses ICMP echo reply messages to determine the
hops to the destination.
show ip route • Displays the routing table.
• Used to verify route entries for destination IP
addresses.
show ip interface brief • Displays the status of device interfaces.
• Used to verify the operational status and IP address
of an interface.
show cdp neighbors • Displays a list of directly connected Cisco devices.
• Also used to validate Layer 1 and 2 connectivity.
Solve a Connectivity Problem
Connectivity from PC1 to PC3 fails.
• Extended pings from the R1 G0/0/0 interface to PC3 fail.
• Pings from R1 (i.e., S0/1/0 interface) to R2 are successful.
• Pings from R1 (i.e., S0/1/0 interface) to R3 are successful.
• R2 routing table reveals the problem and R2# show ip route | begin Gateway
Gateway of last resort is not set
the incorrect static route is removed. [Link]/16 is variably subnetted, 5 subnets, 2 masks
C [Link]/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0/0
• A new static route solves the problem. L [Link]/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0/0
C [Link]/24 is directly connected, Serial0/l/0
• ip route [Link] [Link] [Link]
L [Link]/32 is directly connected, Serial0/l/0
S [Link]/24 [1/0] via [Link]
[Link]/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C [Link]/24 is directly connected, Serial0/1/1
L [Link]/32 is directly connected, Serial0/1/1
S [Link]/24 [1/0] via [Link]
R2#
What did I learn in this module?
• A host sends a packet to another host and sends it to the default gateway
address.
• When the packet arrives on a router interface, it decapsulates the packet and
searches the routing table for a matching destination network entry.
• If the destination IP address:
• Matches a static route entry, the router will use the static route to identify the next hop
IP address or exit interface.
• Does not match a specific route to the destination network, then the router will use the
default static route (if configured).
• Does not match a route table entry, then the router will drop the packet and send an
ICMP message back to the source.
• If the router matched a routing table entry, then the router encapsulates the
packet and forwards it out of the appropriate interface.
• The packet is forwarded from router to router until it reaches its destination
network.
What did I learn in this module? (Cont.)
• When the packet reaches the destination network, that router will search the routing
table for a match.
• When the destination IP address matches a directly connected Ethernet interface, the
router searches the ARP table for the Layer 2 MAC address of the destination IP address.
• If no ARP entry exists, the router sends an ARP request out of the Ethernet interface
• The destination host responds with an ARP reply containing its MAC address.
• The router then encapsulates the packet in a new frame. It uses the MAC address of the
destination host as the frame destination MAC address, and the MAC address of the
router Ethernet interface as the source MAC address in the frame.
• The frame is forwarded out of the appropriate interface.
• The packet arrives on the network interface card (NIC) interface of destination host and is
processed accordingly.
What did I learn in this module? (Cont.)
Common IOS troubleshooting commands to troubleshoot IPv4 Static and default
routes include:
• ping
• traceroute
• show ip route
• show ip interface brief
• show cdp neighbors detail