interfaces, the router checks the destination IP address
in the data packet header and looks up the best match for
that destination in its routing table. If the destination IP
address matches one of the networks in the routing table,
it means that either the network is directly connected to
the router or it can be reached via another router that is
directly connected, and it becomes the next-hop router
toward the final destination of the data packet. If there is
no match for that destination IP address in the routing
table, the router sends the data packet to the default
route, and if there is no default route, the router drops
the data packet.
After determining the correct path for the packet, the
router forwards the packet through a network interface
toward the destination. Figure 16-10 shows a simple
network diagram.
Figure 16-10 Simple Network Diagram
The routing table for the network in Figure 16-10 might
look like Table 16-8.
Table 16-8 Routing TableNetworkInterface or Next Hop