Routes to other networks 11.. IIPP rroouuttiinngg IP routing is a complex subject. Here are some things you should to know about it. 22.. WWhhyy?? If you have a single Ethernet network, then you don't have to do anything other than setting the IP number of your computer (and optionally the netmask and the network address). If your network is larger than one Ethernet segment, you will have to tell _L_i_n_u_x where the gateways are to other segments. 33.. DDeeffaauulltt rroouuttee Most networks have only one gateway -- the default route. 44.. RRoouutteess ttoo ootthheerr nneettwwoorrkkss aanndd hhoossttss You must manually specify the gateways to those networks and hosts. 55.. TThhee rroouutteedd ddaaeemmoonn In some complex networks, there is more than one gateway and multiple routes to a single destination. Maintaining the different routes by hand is difficult and error prone. In this case, the routed daemon is helpful. However, please be careful with it. Most routed daemons available on the net were at some point broken and were losing routes. I have no confirmation that a working routed is now available. Check out gated as a replacement if you are experiencing strange route losses with routed. I guess this will be solved soon. If you know about this issue, please inform me!