route Command Cheat Sheet

route manipulates the kernel's IP routing tables. It allows you to set up static routes to specific hosts or networks via an interface.

Deprecated: Use ip route (iproute2) on modern systems.

Synopsis

route [-n] [add|del] [target]

Viewing Routes

Show Routing Table

route

Show Numerical Addresses (-n)

Don't resolve Names (Faster).

route -n

Output Example:

Destination     Gateway         Genmask         Flags Metric Ref    Use Iface
0.0.0.0         192.168.1.1     0.0.0.0         UG    100    0        0 eth0
192.168.1.0     0.0.0.0         255.255.255.0   U     100    0        0 eth0

- UG: Up and Gateway (This is the default gateway). - U: Up (Directly connected).

Modifying Routes

Add Default Gateway

Route all traffic not otherwise matched to 192.168.1.1.

sudo route add default gw 192.168.1.1

Add Static Route to Network

Route traffic for 10.0.0.0/24 through eth1.

sudo route add -net 10.0.0.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 dev eth1

Add Route via Gateway

Route traffic for 10.0.0.0/24 via gateway 192.168.1.254.

sudo route add -net 10.0.0.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 gw 192.168.1.254

Delete a Route

sudo route del -net 10.0.0.0 netmask 255.255.255.0

Delete Default Gateway

sudo route del default

route vs ip route

Action	`route` (Legacy)	`ip route` (Modern)
Show	`route -n`	`ip r`
Add Default	`route add default gw 1.1.1.1`	`ip r add default via 1.1.1.1`
Add Net	`route add -net 10.0.0.0/24 gw ...`	`ip r add 10.0.0.0/24 via ...`

Notes

Changes made with route are not persistent. They disappear after reboot.
To make persistent: Edit /etc/network/interfaces (Debian) or /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/route-eth0 (RHEL).