9 - Configuring Static Routing in Packet Tracer

9 - Configuring Static Routing in Packet Tracer#

This tutorial is the nineth in our Cisco Packet Tracer series and focuses on static routing, a foundational technique for routing traffic between networks. Unlike RIP, where routers exchange routing tables automatically, static routes must be manually defined on each router, giving you full control over path selection.

We’ll build a three-router network, each connected to a local switch and two PCs, configure IP addressing, set up RIP on each router, and test connectivity between all endpoints.

If you’re after a different routing protocol, check out -

Part 1 – Network Topology Overview#

This network includes:

  • Three routers (R1, R2, R3) connected in a linear series

  • Three switches (S1, S2, S3) – one per router

  • Two PCs per switch (6 total PCs)

The goal is to enable all PCs to communicate through manually configured static routes.

Figure

Part 2 – Device Placement and Cabling#

Step 2.1 – Add Devices to the Workspace#

Add:

  • 3 Routers (Router-PT-Empty)

  • 3 Switches (2960)

  • 6 PCs

Label:

  • Routers: R0, R1, R2

  • Switches: S0, S1, S2

  • PCs: PC0–PC5

Figure

Step 2.2 – Add Network Modules to Routers#

For this topology, use Router-PT-Empty devices. Each router needs two Serial and two FastEthernet interfaces to support all required connections.

Note

We will only be using one serial and one FastEthernet interface per router for this tutorial, but the additional interfaces will allow for future expansion in subequent tutorials.

Follow these steps for R0, R1, and R2:

  1. Click the router to open its configuration window.

  2. Go to the Physical tab.

  3. Click the power button to turn off the router (the green light will go out). Figure

  4. In the module area, locate PT-ROUTER-NM-1S (Serial Port) and PT-ROUTER-NM-1CFE (FastEthernet).

  5. Drag and insert two PT-ROUTER-NM-1S modules into the first two empty slots (from right to left). Figure

  6. Drag and insert two PT-ROUTER-NM-1CFE modules into the next two empty slots. Figure

  7. Click the power button again to turn the router back on. Figure

Step 2.3 – Cabling#

Copper Straight-Through#

From

To

Port/Interface

PC0

S1

fa0/1

PC1

S1

fa0/2

S1

R0

fa0/24 → fa2/0

PC2

S2

fa0/1

PC3

S2

fa0/2

S2

R1

fa0/24 → fa2/0

PC4

S3

fa0/1

PC5

S3

fa0/2

S3

R2

fa0/24 → fa2/0

Serial DTE Connections#

From

To

Port/Interface

R0

R1

se0/0 ↔ se1/0

R1

R2

se0/0 ↔ se1/0

Figure

Part 3 – IP Addressing Scheme#

Now we will assign IP addresses to all devices, ensuring they can communicate across the network.

Subnet Allocation#

For this tutorial, we will use the following subnets:

Subnet

Devices

Subnet Mask

192.168.1.0/24

PC0, PC1, R0

255.255.255.0

192.168.2.0/24

PC2, PC3, R1

255.255.255.0

192.168.3.0/24

PC4, PC5, R2

255.255.255.0

10.0.0.0/30

R0 ↔ R1

255.0.0.0

11.0.0.0/30

R1 ↔ R2

255.0.0.0

Step 3.1 – Assign IPs to PCs#

Go to Desktop > IP Configuration on each PC:

PC

IP Address

Subnet Mask

Default Gateway

PC0

192.168.1.10

255.255.255.0

192.168.1.1

PC1

192.168.1.11

255.255.255.0

192.168.1.1

PC2

192.168.2.12

255.255.255.0

192.168.2.1

PC3

192.168.2.13

255.255.255.0

192.168.2.1

PC4

192.168.3.14

255.255.255.0

192.168.3.1

PC5

192.168.3.15

255.255.255.0

192.168.3.1

Figure

Figure

Important

Make a save of your Packet Tracer file now before you start configuring the router, we will be using this same set up in the next few tutorials as we explore different routing protocols.

Part 4 – Router Configuration#

Each router in this network handles two types of connections:

  • LAN-side via FastEthernet2/0, connected to a local switch

  • WAN-side via Serial interfaces, connected to neighbouring routers

  • All routers will be configured with static routing

Note

Here the static routing configuration is done manually. For example in R0, we add routes to R1 and R2 via the lines -

  • ip route 192.168.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.2

  • ip route 192.168.3.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.2

This means that R0 will know how to reach the networks of R1 and R2 through the serial link to R1 (10.0.0.2).

Step 4.1 – R0 Configuration#

enable
configure terminal
hostname R0

interface fa2/0
ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
no shutdown
exit

interface se0/0
ip address 10.0.0.1 255.0.0.0
clock rate 64000
no shutdown
exit

ip route 192.168.2.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.2
ip route 192.168.3.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.2
exit

write memory
exit

Figure

Step 4.2 – R1 Configuration#

enable
configure terminal
hostname R1

interface fa2/0
ip address 192.168.2.1 255.255.255.0
no shutdown
exit

interface se1/0
ip address 10.0.0.2 255.0.0.0
no shutdown
exit

interface se0/0
ip address 11.0.0.1 255.0.0.0
clock rate 64000
no shutdown
exit

ip route 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.0.1
ip route 192.168.3.0 255.255.255.0 11.0.0.2
exit

write memory
exit

Figure

Step 4.3 – R2 Configuration#

enable
configure terminal
hostname R2

interface fa2/0
ip address 192.168.3.1 255.255.255.0
no shutdown
exit

interface se1/0
ip address 11.0.0.2 255.0.0.0
no shutdown
exit

ip route 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 11.0.0.1
ip route 192.168.2.0 255.255.255.0 11.0.0.1
exit

write memory
exit

Figure

Part 5 – Verification and Testing#

Step 5.1 – Routing Table Check#

show ip route

You should see static routes (S) to remote networks.

Figure

Step 5.2 – Test Connectivity#

From PC0, test:

ping 192.168.1.11
ping 192.168.2.12
ping 192.168.3.14

Figure

From PC3, test:

ping 192.168.3.14

Figure

Repeat between any pair of PCs.

Summary#

In this tutorial, you:

  • Reused a three-router, three-switch network

  • Assigned IPs to all devices

  • Manually configured static routes

  • Verified end-to-end connectivity with ping

The next tutorial will build on this foundation by introducing RIP routing, allowing routers to automatically exchange routing information and dynamically adjust to network changes.

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