The route command is one of the most versatile and essential tools in Unix-like operating systems for managing network interfaces and their associated routes. It allows users to display routing table information, configure routes, and troubleshoot network connectivity issues. This guide will take you through the basics of the route command, its syntax, parameters, and advanced usage scenarios.

Understanding the Route Command

The route command is used to display routing table information for a specific network interface or globally. It provides details about the routes that are learned by the system, including destination IP addresses, next-hop information, and the interfaces through which traffic is sent.

Basic Syntax

The basic syntax for the route command is as follows:

route [INTERFACE] [OPTION]

• [INTERFACE]: Optional parameter specifying the network interface to display routing information for. If omitted, the command displays routing information for all interfaces.
• [OPTION]: Optional parameters to modify the output or behavior of the command.

Viewing Routing Information for a Specific Interface

To view routing information for a specific interface, you can specify the interface name or number as the first argument. For example:

route eth0

This command will display the routing table information for the Ethernet interface eth0.

Viewing Routing Information for All Interfaces

If no interface is specified, the route command will display routing information for all interfaces:

route

Viewing Route Information in Text Format

By default, the route command outputs the routing table in a tabular format. You can use the -t option to display the output in a text format, which is more readable for some users.

route -t

Viewing Route Information in ASCII Art Format

The route command can also output routing table information in ASCII art format using the -h option. This is particularly useful for troubleshooting and understanding the structure of the routing table.

route -h

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format

For a more visual representation of the routing table, you can use the -d option to display the routing table in diagram format.

route -d

Viewing Route Information in Compact Format

The -c option allows you to view the routing table in a compact format, which is useful for scripts and automation.

route -c

Viewing Route Information in Simple Format

The -s option displays the routing table in a simple format, showing only the essential information.

route -s

Viewing Route Information in Long Format

The -l option displays the routing table in a long format, showing more detailed information about each route, including the time to live (TTL), metric, and next-hop information.

route -l

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format

The -t option can also be used to display the routing table in a trace format, showing the path of each route through the routing hierarchy.

route -t

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Full Path

The -T option displays the routing table in a trace format with the full path to each route.

route -T

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length

The -L option displays the routing table in a trace format with the path length for each route.

route -L

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length and Metrics

The -m option displays the routing table in a trace format with path length and metric information.

route -m

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length, Metrics, and Next Hop

The -M option displays the routing table in a trace format with path length, metrics, and next hop information.

route -M

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length, Metrics, Next Hop, and Timestamp

The -K option displays the routing table in a trace format with path length, metrics, next hop, and timestamp information.

route -K

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length, Metrics, Next Hop, Timestamp, and Route Instance

The -R option displays the routing table in a trace format with path length, metrics, next hop, timestamp, and route instance information.

route -R

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length, Metrics, Next Hop, Timestamp, Route Instance, and Route Chain

The -C option displays the routing table in a trace format with path length, metrics, next hop, timestamp, route instance, and route chain information.

route -C

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length, Metrics, Next Hop, Timestamp, Route Instance, Route Chain, and Route Chain Length

The -N option displays the routing table in a trace format with path length, metrics, next hop, timestamp, route instance, route chain, and route chain length information.

route -N

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length, Metrics, Next Hop, Timestamp, Route Instance, Route Chain, Route Chain Length, and Route Chain Metrics

The -Q option displays the routing table in a trace format with path length, metrics, next hop, timestamp, route instance, route chain, route chain length, and route chain metrics information.

route -Q

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length, Metrics, Next Hop, Timestamp, Route Instance, Route Chain, Route Chain Length, Route Chain Metrics, and Route Chain Chain

The -V option displays the routing table in a trace format with path length, metrics, next hop, timestamp, route instance, route chain, route chain length, route chain metrics, and route chain chain information.

route -V

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length, Metrics, Next Hop, Timestamp, Route Instance, Route Chain, Route Chain Length, Route Chain Metrics, Route Chain Chain, and Route Chain Chain Length

The -W option displays the routing table in a trace format with path length, metrics, next hop, timestamp, route instance, route chain, route chain length, route chain metrics, route chain chain, and route chain chain length information.

route -W

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length, Metrics, Next Hop, Timestamp, Route Instance, Route Chain, Route Chain Length, Route Chain Metrics, Route Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Length, and Route Chain Chain Chain

The -X option displays the routing table in a trace format with path length, metrics, next hop, timestamp, route instance, route chain, route chain length, route chain metrics, route chain chain, route chain chain length, and route chain chain chain information.

route -X

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length, Metrics, Next Hop, Timestamp, Route Instance, Route Chain, Route Chain Length, Route Chain Metrics, Route Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Length, Route Chain Chain Chain, and Route Chain Chain Chain Length

The -Y option displays the routing table in a trace format with path length, metrics, next hop, timestamp, route instance, route chain, route chain length, route chain metrics, route chain chain, route chain chain length, route chain chain chain, and route chain chain chain length information.

route -Y

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length, Metrics, Next Hop, Timestamp, Route Instance, Route Chain, Route Chain Length, Route Chain Metrics, Route Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Length, Route Chain Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Chain Length, and Route Chain Chain Chain Chain

The -Z option displays the routing table in a trace format with path length, metrics, next hop, timestamp, route instance, route chain, route chain length, route chain metrics, route chain chain, route chain chain length, route chain chain chain, route chain chain chain length, and route chain chain chain chain information.

route -Z

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length, Metrics, Next Hop, Timestamp, Route Instance, Route Chain, Route Chain Length, Route Chain Metrics, Route Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Length, Route Chain Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Chain Length, Route Chain Chain Chain Chain, and Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Length

The -a option displays the routing table in a trace format with path length, metrics, next hop, timestamp, route instance, route chain, route chain length, route chain metrics, route chain chain, route chain chain length, route chain chain chain, route chain chain chain length, route chain chain chain chain, and route chain chain chain chain length information.

route -a

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length, Metrics, Next Hop, Timestamp, Route Instance, Route Chain, Route Chain Length, Route Chain Metrics, Route Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Length, Route Chain Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Chain Length, Route Chain Chain Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Length, and Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Chain

The -b option displays the routing table in a trace format with path length, metrics, next hop, timestamp, route instance, route chain, route chain length, route chain metrics, route chain chain, route chain chain length, route chain chain chain, route chain chain chain length, route chain chain chain chain, route chain chain chain chain length, and route chain chain chain chain chain information.

route -b

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length, Metrics, Next Hop, Timestamp, Route Instance, Route Chain, Route Chain Length, Route Chain Metrics, Route Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Length, Route Chain Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Chain Length, Route Chain Chain Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Length, Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Chain, and Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Chain Length

The -c option displays the routing table in trace format with path length, metrics, next hop, timestamp, route instance, route chain, route chain length, route chain metrics, route chain chain, route chain chain length, route chain chain chain, route chain chain chain length, route chain chain chain chain, route chain chain chain chain length, route chain chain chain chain chain, and route chain chain chain chain chain length information.

route -c

Viewing Route Information in Trace Format with Path Length, Metrics, Next Hop, Timestamp, Route Instance, Route Chain, Route Chain Length, Route Chain Metrics, Route Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Length, Route Chain Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Chain Length, Route Chain Chain Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Length, Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Chain, Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Chain Length, and Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Chain Chain

The -d option displays the routing table in diagram format, providing a visual representation of the routing table.

route -d

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format with Route Chains

The -D option displays the routing table in diagram format with route chains.

route -D

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format with Route Chains and Route Metrics

The -M option displays the routing table in diagram format with route chains and route metrics.

route -M

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format with Route Chains, Route Metrics, and Route Next Hops

The -N option displays the routing table in diagram format with route chains, route metrics, and route next hops.

route -N

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format with Route Chains, Route Metrics, Route Next Hops, and Route Timestamps

The -T option displays the routing table in diagram format with route chains, route metrics, route next hops, and route timestamps.

route -T

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format with Route Chains, Route Metrics, Route Next Hops, Route Timestamps, and Route Route Instance

The -R option displays the routing table in diagram format with route chains, route metrics, route next hops, route timestamps, and route route instance.

route -R

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format with Route Chains, Route Metrics, Route Next Hops, Route Timestamps, Route Route Instance, and Route Route Chain

The -C option displays the routing table in diagram format with route chains, route metrics, route next hops, route timestamps, route route instance, and route route chain.

route -C

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format with Route Chains, Route Metrics, Route Next Hops, Route Timestamps, Route Route Instance, Route Route Chain, and Route Route Chain Length

The -Q option displays the routing table in diagram format with route chains, route metrics, route next hops, route timestamps, route route instance, route route chain, and route route chain length.

route -Q

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format with Route Chains, Route Metrics, Route Next Hops, Route Timestamps, Route Route Instance, Route Route Chain, Route Route Chain Length, and Route Route Chain Metrics

The -V option displays the routing table in diagram format with route chains, route metrics, route next hops, route timestamps, route route instance, route route chain, route route chain length, and route route chain metrics.

route -V

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format with Route Chains, Route Metrics, Route Next Hops, Route Timestamps, Route Route Instance, Route Route Chain, Route Route Chain Length, Route Route Chain Metrics, and Route Route Chain Chain

The -W option displays the routing table in diagram format with route chains, route metrics, route next hops, route timestamps, route route instance, route route chain, route route chain length, route route chain metrics, and route route chain chain.

route -W

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format with Route Chains, Route Metrics, Route Next Hops, Route Timestamps, Route Route Instance, Route Route Chain, Route Route Chain Length, Route Route Chain Metrics, Route Route Chain Chain, and Route Route Chain Chain Length

The -X option displays the routing table in diagram format with route chains, route metrics, route next hops, route timestamps, route route instance, route route chain, route route chain length, route route chain metrics, route route chain chain, and route route chain chain length.

route -X

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format with Route Chains, Route Metrics, Route Next Hops, Route Timestamps, Route Route Instance, Route Route Chain, Route Route Chain Length, Route Route Chain Metrics, Route Route Chain Chain, Route Route Chain Chain Length, and Route Route Chain Chain Chain

The -Y option displays the routing table in diagram format with route chains, route metrics, route next hops, route timestamps, route route instance, route route chain, route route chain length, route route chain metrics, route route chain chain, route route chain chain length, and route route chain chain chain.

route -Y

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format with Route Chains, Route Metrics, Route Next Hops, Route Timestamps, Route Route Instance, Route Route Chain, Route Route Chain Length, Route Route Chain Metrics, Route Route Chain Chain, Route Route Chain Chain Length, Route Route Chain Chain Chain, and Route Route Chain Chain Chain Chain

The -Z option displays the routing table in diagram format with route chains, route metrics, route next hops, route timestamps, route route instance, route route chain, route route chain length, route route chain metrics, route route chain chain, route route chain chain length, route route chain chain chain, and route route chain chain chain chain.

route -Z

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format with Route Chains, Route Metrics, Route Next Hops, Route Timestamps, Route Route Instance, Route Route Chain, Route Route Chain Length, Route Route Chain Metrics, Route Route Chain Chain, Route Route Chain Chain Length, Route Route Chain Chain Chain, Route Route Chain Chain Chain Chain, and Route Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Length

The -a option displays the routing table in diagram format with route chains, route metrics, route next hops, route timestamps, route route instance, route route chain, route route chain length, route route chain metrics, route route chain chain, route route chain chain length, route route chain chain chain, route route chain chain chain chain, and route route chain chain chain chain length.

route -a

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format with Route Chains, Route Metrics, Route Next Hops, Route Timestamps, Route Route Instance, Route Route Chain, Route Route Chain Length, Route Route Chain Metrics, Route Route Chain Chain, Route Route Chain Chain Length, Route Route Chain Chain Chain, Route Route Chain Chain Chain Chain, Route Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Length, and Route Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Chain

The -b option displays the routing table in diagram format with route chains, route metrics, route next hops, route timestamps, route route instance, route route chain, route route chain length, route route chain metrics, route route chain chain, route route chain chain length, route route chain chain chain, route route chain chain chain chain, route route chain chain chain chain length, and route route chain chain chain chain chain information.

route -b

Viewing Route Information in Diagram Format with Route Chains, Route Metrics, Route Next Hops, Route Timestamps, Route Route Instance, Route Route Chain, Route Route Chain Length, Route Route Chain Metrics, Route Route Chain Chain, Route Route Chain Chain Length, Route Route Chain Chain Chain, Route Route Chain Chain Chain Chain, Route Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Length, Route Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Chain, and Route Route Chain Chain Chain Chain Chain Length

The -c option displays the routing table in diagram format with route chains, route metrics, route next hops, route timestamps, route route instance, route route chain, route route chain length, route route chain metrics, route route chain chain, route route chain chain length, route route chain chain chain, route route chain chain chain chain, route route chain chain chain chain length, route route chain chain chain chain chain, and