Configuring a default route

A default route is used to forward packets that do not match any specific route entry in the routing table. Without a default route, packets that do not match any route entries are discarded.

A default route can be configured in either of the following ways:

• The network administrator can configure a default route with both destination and mask being 0.0.0.0. For more information, see "Configuring a static route."

• Some dynamic routing protocols, such as OSPF, RIP, and IS-IS, can generate a default route. For example, an upstream router running OSPF can generate a default route and advertise it to other routers, which install the default route with the next hop being the upstream router. For more information, see the respective chapters on these routing protocols in this configuration guide.