If I run this command on my Linux system at the moment, I am asking for the route table entry involving the IP address '192.168.1.254'. That happens to be the IP address to which packets are routed by "default" on my system:
Code:
netstat -r | fgrep '192.168.1.254'
this is the command's output:
Code:
default 192.168.1.254 0.0.0.0 UG 0 0 0 eth0
these are the headings for the columns:
Code:
Destination Gateway Genmask Flags MSS Window irtt Iface
if I add the 'n' option to the command, I'm asking for the same information, but without translating numeric values to their associated names:
Code:
netstat -rn | fgrep '192.168.1.254'
in that form the command outputs:
Code:
0.0.0.0 192.168.1.254 0.0.0.0 UG 0 0 0 eth0
in other words, in local routing tables, the IP address 0.0.0.0 instead of a special destination address, designates the "default" route, the route that is used if a route for a specific destination, or group of destinations, is
not in the routing table.
HTH.