A multiple-router scenario

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

A multiple-router scenario

The following illustration shows a more complex router configuration.

In this configuration, there are three networks (Networks A, B, and C) and two routers (Routers 1 and 2). Router 1 is on Networks A and B, and Router 2 is on Networks B and C. Router 1 must notify Router 2 that Network A can be reached through Router 1, and Router 2 must notify Router 1 that Network C can be reached through Router 2. This information is automatically communicated through the use of routing protocols, such as RIP or OSPF. When a user on Network A wants to communicate with a user on Network C, the user's computer on Network A forwards the packet to Router 1. Router 1 then forwards the packet to Router 2. Router 2 then forwards the packet to the user's computer on Network C.

Without the use of routing protocols, a network administrator has to enter static routes into the routing tables of Router 1 and Router 2. While static routes work, they do not scale well to larger internetworks or recover from changes in the internetwork topology.

Note

• Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is not available on Windows XP 64-bit Edition (Itanium) and the 64-bit versions of the Windows Server 2003 family.