The static routed environment

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

The static routed environment

A static routed IP environment is best suited to a small, single-path, static IP internetwork:

• A small internetwork is defined as 2 to 10 networks.

• Single-path means that there is only a single path for packets to travel between any two endpoints on the internetwork.

• Static means that the topology of the internetwork does not change over time.

Candidates for a static routed environment include:

• A small business.

• A home office IP internetwork.

• A branch office with a single network.

  Rather than running a routing protocol across a typically low-bandwidth WAN link, a single default route at the branch office router ensures that all traffic not destined for a computer on the branch office network is routed to the main office.

The disadvantages of static routing are:

• No fault tolerance

  If a router or link goes down, static routers do not sense the fault and inform other routers of the fault. While this is a concern on large, corporate internetworks, a small office (with two routers and three networks based on LAN links) does not go down often enough to justify deploying a multipath topology and a routing protocol.

• Administrative overhead

  If a new network is added or removed from the internetwork, routes to the new network must be manually added or removed. If a new router is added, it must be properly configured for the routes of the internetwork.