Propagating a Default Static Route

Using a static route to 0.0.0.0/0 as a default route is not routing protocol-dependent. The "quad zero" static default route can be used with any currently supported routing protocols. The static default route is usually configured on the router that has a connection to a network outside the EIGRP routing domain; for example, to an ISP.

In Figure 1, R2 is the gateway router connecting the EIGRP routing domain with the Internet. When the static default route is configured, it is necessary to propagate that route throughout the EIGRP domain, as shown in Figure 2.

One method of propagating a static default route within the EIGRP routing domain is by using the redistribute static command. The redistribute static command tells EIGRP to include static routes in its EIGRP updates to other routers. Figure 3 shows the configuration of the static default route and the redistribute static command on router R2.

Figure 4 verifies that the default route has been received by router R2 and installed in its IPv4 routing table.

In Figure 5, the show ip protocols command verifies that R2 is redistributing static routes within the EIGRP routing domain.