The "route print" command is a powerful tool in Windows operating systems used to display the current IP routing table. This command is essential for network troubleshooting and management, as it helps you understand how data packets are routed in your network. Whether you're a network administrator or a systems engineer, knowing how to use this command can significantly enhance your ability to diagnose and resolve network issues.

Examples:

1. Basic Usage of "route print":

   To display the current routing table on your Windows machine, simply open the Command Prompt and type:

   route print

   This command will output a list of all active routes, including network destinations, netmasks, gateways, interfaces, and metrics. The information is divided into IPv4 and IPv6 sections.

2. Filtering the Output:

   If you want to filter the output to show only IPv4 routes, you can use the following command:

   route print -4

   Similarly, for IPv6 routes, use:

   route print -6

3. Understanding the Output:

   The output of the "route print" command is divided into several columns:

   • Network Destination: The destination network or host.
   • Netmask: The subnet mask for the destination.
   • Gateway: The gateway through which the destination is reached.
   • Interface: The interface used to reach the gateway.
   • Metric: The cost of using the route, with lower values being preferred.

4. Using "route print" with Specific Interfaces:

   To view routes associated with a specific network interface, you can use the interface index. First, identify the interface index by listing all interfaces:

   route print -if

   Then, use the index number to filter routes:

   route print <interface_index>

   Replace <interface_index> with the actual index number of the interface you are interested in.

5. Exporting the Routing Table:

   You can export the routing table to a text file for further analysis or documentation:

   route print > C:\path\to\output\file.txt

   Replace C:\path\to\output\file.txt with the desired file path.

6. Using PowerShell:

   While "route print" is a command-line tool, you can also achieve similar results using PowerShell. To display the routing table in PowerShell, you can use:

   Get-NetRoute

   This command provides a more detailed and formatted view of the routing table.