Asus RX3041H - Manual (Page 55)

RX3041H User’s Manual Chapter 7. Configuring Routes
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Configuring Routes
You can use Configuration Manager to define specific routes for your Internet and network data
communication. This chapter describes basic routing concepts and provides instructions for creating routes.
Note that most users do not need to define routes.
7.1 Overview of IP Routes
The essential challenge of a router is: when it receives data intended for a particular destination, which next
device should it send that data to? When you define IP routes, you provide the rules that the RX3041H uses to
make these decisions.
7.1.1 Do I need to define IP routes?
Most users do not need to define IP routes. On a typical small home or office LAN, the existing routes that set
up the default gateways for your LAN computers and for the RX3041H provide the most appropriate path for
all your Internet traffic.
On your LAN computers, a default gateway directs all Internet traffic to the LAN port on the RX3041H.
Your LAN computers know their default gateway either because you assigned it to them when you
modified their TCP/IP properties, or because you configured them to receive the information
dynamically from a server whenever they access the Internet. (Each of these processes is described
in the Quick Start Guide instructions, Part 2.)
On the RX3041H itself, a default gateway is defined to direct all outbound Internet traffic to a router at
your ISP. This default gateway is assigned automatically by your ISP whenever the device negotiates
an Internet connection. (The process for adding a default route is described in section 7.3.2 Adding a
Static Route.)
You may need to define routes if your home setup includes two or more networks or subnets, if you connect to
two or more ISP services, or if you connect to a remote corporate LAN.
7.2 Dynamic Routing using RIP (Routing Information Protocol)
RIP enables routing information exchange between routers; thus, routes are updated automatically without
human intervention. Please note that RIP service must be enabled first in the System Management / System
Services configuration page if you want to use RIP to exchange routing information with other routers.
7.2.1 Dynamic Routing (RIP) Configuration Parameters
The following table defines the available configuration parameters for dynamic routing.
Table 7.1. Dynamic Routing (RIP) Configuration Parameters
Field Description
Interface Select the interface through which the routing information exchange is
desired. You may configure all or some interfaces to support routing
information exchange.
RIP Click the "Enable" or "Disable" radio button to enable or disable "RIP" for the
interface selected. Note that you must enable RIP service first in the System
Management / System Services configuration page if you want to enable RIP
to exchange routing information. The default setting is “Enable”.