I'm running a Linux 2.6.18 machine with two interfaces

eth0 subnet X
eth1 subnet Y

I have a node A with address on subnet X which really isn't on that lan. However, there is a node B on eth1 that can talk to A.

On solaris I can just do a

route add A gw B

and that works. Solaris honors the route before treating A as local on eth0.

On Linux, it adds the additional route but still arps for A on eth0, and of course never gets an answer, and never goes to the route. Even if I made B proxy arp for A, it would be the wrong interface and I suspect wouldn't help.

Is there a way to force Linux to push A's packet to B?

hmm.. not too clear.

A <1.2> 10.0-----router-----1.1--------B <1.3> ? like this?

yes it will work if you plugged both node A and the router in the same unmanaged hub. no need to route.

"Solaris honors the route before treating A as local on eth0."

where did you get this?

HTH.

I have some experiance like this, and I bet Linux also honors the route before broadcast. But you have to use device name instead of gateway IP in your route command. Something like this :

OOPS! It turns out Linux handles the host route just like Solaris.

I had the address of "node A" incorrect, and just didn't notice.