TCP/IP in Windows 2000 Professional

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A Windows 2000 Professional computer uses its local IP routing table to determine how to forward an IP packet to reach a designated host. The local routing table can be configured in the following ways:

  • The routing table is manually maintained at the Windows 2000 Professional– based computer.

  • The routing table that is automatically maintained at the Windows 2000 Professional– based computer by means of Routing Information Protocol (RIP) broadcasts from routers on the subnet.

  • The default gateway is manually configured, or specified through the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

  • The default gateway is automatically configured and maintained through Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Router Discovery.

Determine the methods needed to identify gateways and manage routing paths.

In an enterprise with multiple subnets, a route to non-local destinations must exist to communicate with hosts in other networks. Windows 2000 Professional supports manual entry of the default gateways and the use of ICMP Router Discovery to find and specify default gateways. Routing is supported by means of manual configuration of the routing table and a Routing Information Protocol (RIP) Listener to permit manual and automated maintenance of the local routing table. Select the methods that reflect your network configuration. See Overview of IP Routing later in this chapter.

Configure default gateways.    Specify the default gateways to be used to direct IP packets if ICMP Router Discovery-enabled routers or RIP-enabled routers are not available in your network. For multihomed computers, the default gateways are used for all adapters, and you might need to manually configure the local route table for separate default gateways. See Configure Default Gateways later in this chapter.

Configure ICMP Router Discovery, if ICMP-enabled routers are available.    ICMP Router Discovery automates the discovery and configuration of the default gateways for a Windows 2000 Professional– based client. If ICMP-enabled routers are used within the network, use this method of specifying default gateways. See Configure ICMP Router Discovery later in this chapter.

Manually edit the routing table, if necessary.    If you want to manually specify the optimal route for IP packets, or have a multihomed computer and need to maintain separate default gateways, use the route command to display, add, and edit the local route tables for your Windows 2000 Professional– based computer. See Manually Edit the Route Table later in this chapter.

Install RIP listening support, if RIP-enabled routers are available.    RIP-enabled routers simplify administration of the routing tables of Windows 2000 Professional– based clients by automatically updating the routing table as necessary. Enable RIP listening support on the client when RIP is supported in your network. See Configure RIP Listening Support later in this chapter.