User`s manual

RX3042H User's Manual Routing
53
7 Routing
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 static routes. Note that most users do not need to define
static 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 RX3042H uses to make these decisions.
7.1.1 Do I need to define static routes?
Most users do not need to define static routes. On a typical small
home or office network, the existing routes that set up the default
gateways for your LAN computers and for the RX3042H 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 RX3042H. 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 RX3042H 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 Static
Routes.)
You may need to define static 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.