Overview
Static routing involves the manual entry of routes into a router's routing table. Unlike dynamic routing, static routes do not change unless an administrator manually updates them.
Advantages
- Low Overhead: No CPU or bandwidth is used for routing protocol updates.
- Security: Administrators have full control over the paths traffic takes.
- Predictability: The path is always known and does not change unexpectedly.
Disadvantages
- Scalability: Difficult to manage in large, complex networks.
- No Fault Tolerance: If a link fails, the static route remains in the table, leading to a 'black hole' unless manually changed.
Use Cases
- Small networks with few routers.
- Connecting to a stub network (a network with only one exit path).
- Defining a default route (gateway of last resort).