Types of Routing

Routing is the process of selecting the best path for data packets to travel from the source to the destination across a network. It is a crucial function of the network layer of the OSI model.

There are mainly two types of routing defined in the network layer:

Static Routing:

In this type of routing, the network administrator manually configures the routing table with the routes that the packets should take. The routing table is usually preconfigured, and the routing decisions are made based on the destination IP address.

Advantages:

1. Simple to configure: Static routing is straightforward to set up, and it does not require complex routing algorithms or protocols.
2. High security: Static routing provides better security than dynamic routing because it does not advertise the network topology, and hence it is less vulnerable to attacks.
3. No network overhead: Since static routing does not require any routing protocols, it generates less network traffic and has no network overhead.

Disadvantages:

• 1. Time-consuming: As the network administrator has to configure each router’s routing table manually, it is time-consuming and requires a lot of effort.
  2. Lack of scalability: Static routing is not scalable in large networks, and it is not practical to manually configure each router in a large network.
  3. Inflexibility: In a dynamic network, changes in the network topology can render the static routing configuration obsolete, making it inflexible and challenging to maintain.         

Dynamic Routing:

In this type of routing, the routers exchange information with each other about the network topology and the best paths to reach different destinations. The routers build and maintain a dynamic routing table based on the received information. There are various dynamic routing protocols such as OSPF, RIP, EIGRP, etc.

Advantages :

1. Automatic: Dynamic routing protocols automatically discover the network topology and calculate the best path to destination networks.
2. Fast Convergence: Dynamic routing protocols quickly adapt to network topology changes and converge to a new topology, which reduces downtime and improves network performance.
3. Scalability: Dynamic routing protocols can handle large, complex networks with multiple paths to a destination, making them more suitable for larger networks.

Disadvantages :

1. 1. Overhead: Dynamic routing protocols generate additional network traffic, which can consume valuable network bandwidth and increase network latency.
   2. Security: Dynamic routing protocols can be vulnerable to attacks, such as spoofing or denial of service (DoS), which can compromise the integrity of the network.
   3. Complexity: Dynamic routing protocols can be complex to configure, troubleshoot, and manage, requiring additional training and expertise.
   4. Unpredictable: Dynamic routing protocols may not always choose the most optimal path or can experience routing loops, which can result in suboptimal network performance or downtime.

It is important to consider the specific needs and requirements of the network when selecting a routing protocol, as well as the trade-offs between dynamic and static routing.