Task 1: Configure static routing to ensure R1 prefers the path through R3 to reach the network 10.0.10.0/24

To enable traffic from R1 to reach the 10.0.10.0/24 network via R3, two static routes need to be configured:

1. A static route on R1 with the destination network 10.0.10.0/24 and R3's IP address (10.0.3.2) as the next-hop
2. A static route on R3  with the destination network 10.0.10.0/24 and R4's IP address (10.0.4.2) as the next-hop.

On R1:

R1#configure terminal
R1(config)#ip route 10.0.10.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.3.2

This command configures a static route on R1, using R3 as the next hop (10.0.3.2). When R1 receives traffic destined for the network 10.0.10.0/24 , it will forward the traffic to R2.

On R3:

R3#configure terminal
R3(config)#ip route 10.0.10.0 255.255.255.0 10.0.4.2

This command configures a static route on R3, using R4 as the next hop (10.0.4.2). When R3 receives traffic destined for the network 10.0.10.0/24 , it will forward the traffic to R4.

Since R4 is already configured, it should have a route in place to reach back to R1.

Task 2: Configure static routing to ensure R1 prefers the path through R2 to reach only PC1 in the network 10.0.10.0/24.

To ensure that R1 reaches only PC1 through R2 in the network, we need to configure host routes on both R1 and R2. Host routes are specific routes that direct traffic to a single destination IP address and are configured with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.255 (/32), meaning a single address or a specific node..

On R1:

R1(config)#ip route 10.0.10.10 255.255.255.255 10.0.1.2

This route ensures that R1 forwards traffic destined for PC1 (10.0.10.10) to R3.

On R2:

R2#configure terminal
R2(config)#ip route 10.0.10.10 255.255.255.255 10.0.2.2

This route ensures that R2 forwards traffic destined for PC1 (10.0.10.10) to R4 which will then forward it to PC1.

In this configuration, If R1 receives a packet that is destined for PC1 (10.0.10.10), it will prefer the host route because it is more specific. If a packet is destined for another IP in the 10.0.10.0/24 network (e.g., 10.0.10.5), the network route will be used.

Now exit the configuration mode and save the configuration.

R1(config)#end
R1#write memory

R2(config)#end
R2#write memory

R3(config)#end
R3#write memory