Routing And Switching Questions Medium
Static routing and dynamic routing are two different methods used in computer networks to determine the path that data packets should take to reach their destination. The main difference between static and dynamic routing lies in how the routing table is populated and updated.
Static routing involves manually configuring the routing table on each network device. Network administrators manually specify the routes and the next hop for each destination network. Once configured, the routing table remains unchanged unless manually updated. Static routing is typically used in small networks with a simple network topology, where the network infrastructure is stable and changes rarely occur. It is easy to configure and requires minimal processing power, but it lacks flexibility and scalability.
On the other hand, dynamic routing protocols automate the process of populating and updating the routing table. Network devices using dynamic routing protocols exchange information about the network topology with neighboring devices. Based on this information, the devices dynamically update their routing tables to determine the best path for data packets. Dynamic routing protocols, such as OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) or EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol), adapt to changes in the network, such as link failures or new network connections. This makes dynamic routing suitable for larger networks with complex topologies that are subject to frequent changes. Dynamic routing provides flexibility, scalability, and fault tolerance, but it requires more processing power and network bandwidth compared to static routing.
In summary, static routing involves manually configuring the routing table, while dynamic routing protocols automate the process of updating the routing table based on network changes. Static routing is suitable for small, stable networks, while dynamic routing is more appropriate for larger, dynamic networks.