Terminology » Switching Routing » Understanding the 'show ip route' Command

Understanding the 'show ip route' Command

routing network ip route command table

This page describes the show ip route command format, provides examples, and outlines its application in network troubleshooting.

The show ip route command is essential for understanding how a router makes forwarding decisions. It allows you to examine the routing table, which contains information about known networks and the best paths to reach them.

Here’s a breakdown of the different variations of the command:

show ip route Formats

The following table describes the different options available with the show ip route command.

CommandDescription
#show ip routeDisplays the entire routing table.
#show ip route protocolDisplays routing information related to a specific routing protocol (e.g., RIP, OSPF, IGRP, EIGRP). Replace protocol with the actual protocol name. For example: #show ip route rip.
#show ip route w.x.y.zDisplays information about the route to the specific IP address w.x.y.z. For example: #show ip route 192.168.1.0.
#show ip route connectedDisplays a table of directly connected routes. These are the networks directly attached to the router’s interfaces.
#show ip route staticDisplays a table of statically configured routes. These routes are manually configured by the network administrator.
#show ip route summaryDisplays a summary of all routes in the routing table. This often includes a count of routes learned via different sources.

show ip route Command Application

The commands listed above are used to view routing table information. This information is crucial for:

  • Troubleshooting network connectivity: Understanding the routing table helps diagnose why traffic might not be reaching its destination.
  • Verifying routing protocol configuration: You can confirm that routing protocols are properly exchanging routing information.
  • Analyzing routing paths: You can see the path traffic will take to reach a specific network.
  • Identifying routing loops: The routing table can reveal inconsistencies that lead to routing loops.
  • Validating static route configurations: Ensures that manually configured routes are correctly configured.