If you set the IP of a single host as the destination address then you will only be able to reach that host, but if you set the entire network segment then you will reach all networks.

When configuring routes on a network, especially on devices like MikroTik routers, you have the option of defining routes to entire network segments or to individual hosts. The difference between these two settings impacts how traffic is routed through your network.

Route to a Network Segment

When you define a route to a network segment, you are specifying how traffic should be directed to any host within that IP address range. This is usually done using a network address and subnet mask or CIDR notation.

For example, if you want traffic to the 192.168.1.0/24 network (which includes all addresses from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.254) to be routed through a specific gateway, you would configure a route for that network segment.

This is useful for directing traffic to larger networks where multiple devices need to be accessible.

Route to a Single Host

Defining a route to a single host means that you are configuring routing for a specific IP address. This is done using the same IP address for the network and the subnet mask 255.255.255.255 (or /32 in CIDR notation), which indicates that the route applies only to that single IP address.

This type of route is useful when you need special handling of traffic to or from a specific device, such as when establishing more detailed routing policies or needing a different path on the network for that host.

Considerations

• Log in: Whether defining a route to a network segment or to a single host, you effectively have access to the specified destination through the defined gateway. However, choosing between one or the other depends on your specific routing needs. A route to a network segment is more general and affects multiple hosts, while a route to a single host is more specific and used for more detailed use cases.
• Efficiency and Scalability: While configuring individual routes for each host can give you very granular control over your network traffic, it can become impractical on larger networks due to increased complexity and resource usage on the router. Routes to network segments are generally preferred for their simplicity and scalability.
• Specific Use Cases: Routes to individual hosts are particularly useful in scenarios such as VPNs, where you need traffic to/from a specific IP address to be treated differently, or in network troubleshooting and testing situations.

In summary, both when defining a route to a network segment or to an individual host, you have access to the specified destination, but the choice between these options depends on the need for granular control of traffic, the scale of the network, and cases of specific use.