Routing protocols specify the ways (routes) of data packets in your LAN and in the Internet. Normally all out-bound data packets from your LAN will be send via a gateway, e.g. the ${_global.productname}, to the server of your ISP and into the internet accordingly.
As the internet is based on packet-switching protocols, the way for each data packet is determined on every network knot anew.
Using Routing Tables you can assign routes for data packet into subnetworks of your LAN.
The Static Routing Method is simple and therefor often used. Each knot maintaines a table with one line for every possible destination knot. Every line holds information about which connection is best, second, etc. and a weight.
If a data packet has to be routed to a certain destination knot a connection according to the information is chosen, depending on the weight information as a chance to choose especially this connection.