OSPF Fundamentals

OSPF is a link state routing protocol that updates the routing table only when network
changes occur, rather than at a predefined interval. OSPF supports variable length
subnet masks (VLSM) and route summarization.

OSPF routers and links are grouped logically into areas that are identified by assigned
numbers. All OSPF networks have at least one area with the default being area 0. If
more than one area exists, area 0 is defined as the backbone area and is used to
connect all other areas. Each area has its own link state databases.

OSPF Areas Types

Normal Areas: These areas can either be standard areas or transit (backbone) areas.
Standard areas are defined as areas that can accept intra-area, inter-area and external
routes. The backbone area is the central area to which all other areas in OSPF connect.
Note: Intra-area routes refer to updates that are passed within the area. Inter-area
routes refer to updates that are passed between areas. External routes refer to updates
passed from another routing protocol into the OSPF domain by the Autonomous
System Border Router (ASBR).
Stub Areas: These areas do not accept routes belonging to external autonomous
systems (AS); however, these areas have inter-area and intra-area routes. In order to
reach the outside networks, the routers in the stub area use a default route which is
injected into the area by the Area Border Router (ABR). A stub area is typically
configured in situations where the branch office need not know about all the routes to
every other office, instead it could use a default route to the central office and get to
other places from there. Hence the memory requirements of the leaf node routers
is reduced, and so is the size of the OSPF database.
To define an area as a stub area, use the OSPF router configuration command, area
<area id> stub
Totally Stub Areas: These areas do not allow routes other than intra-area and the
default routes to be propagated within the area. The ABR injects a default route into
the area and all the routers belonging to this area use the default route to send any
traffic outside the area.
To define a totally stub area, use the OSPF router configuration command, area <area
id>stub no-summary, on the ABR.
NSSA: This type of area allows the flexibility of importing a few external routes into
the area while still trying to retain the stub characteristic. Assume that one of the
routers in the stub area is connected to an external AS running a different routing
protocol, it now becomes the ASBR, and hence the area can no more be called a stub
area. However, if the area is configured as a NSSA, then the ASBR generates a NSSA
external link-state advertisement (LSA) (Type-7) which can be flooded throughout the
NSSA area. These Type-7 LSAs are converted into Type-5 LSAs at the NSSA ABR
and flooded throughout the OSPF domain
To define a NSSA, use the OSPF router configuration command, area <area
id>nssa no-summary.
For more information on NSSA, refer to OSPF Not-So-Stubby Area.
Normal, Stub, Totally Stub and NSSA Area Differences:
Restriction
Normal None
Stub No Type 5 AS-external LSA allowed
Totally Stub No Type 3, 4 or 5 LSAs allowed except the default summary route
NSSA
No Type 5 AS-external LSAs allowed, but Type 7 LSAs that convert to Type 5
at the NSSA ABR can traverse
NSSA
Totally Stub
No Type 3, 4 or 5 LSAs except the default summary route, but Type 7 LSAs
that convert to Type 5 at the NSSA ABR are allowed
Refer to the Types of OSPF Areas section of How Does OSPF Generate Default Routes? to learn
more about different types of areas.
OSPF Router Types

Internal Router: Responsible for maintaining a current and accurate database of
subnets within the area. Forwards data to other networks using the shortest path.

Backbone Router: Has an interface connected to the backbone (Area 0).

Area Border Router (ABR): Has interfaces in multiple areas with at lest one
interface in area 0. Connects other areas to the backbone and maintains routing
information for each connected area.

Autonomous System Boundary Router (ASBR): Router located between OSPF
autonomous system and a non-OSPF network. Used to redistribute routing
information between networks. Must reside in a non-stub area. Also, a router becomes
an ASBR when OSPF is redistributing from other routing protocols, including static
routes, and it may reside in a pure OSPF network.


OSPF LSA Types

Type 1: Router link advertisements generated by each router for each area it belongs
to. Flooded to a single area only (intra-area route). In a multiarea OSPF network,
routes, originated within an area, are known by the routers in the same area as Intra-
Area routes. These routes are flagged as O in the show ip route command output.

Type 2: Network link advertisements generated by designated routers describing the
set of routers attached to a particular network. Flooded to the area that contains the
network (intra-area route). When a route crosses an OSPF Area Border Router
(ABR), the route is known as an OSPF Inter-Area route. These routes are flagged
as O IA in the show ip route command output.

Both Intra and Inter-Area routes are also called OSPF Internal routes, as
they are generated by OSPF itself, when an interface is covered with the
OSPF network command.

Type 3/4: Summary link advertisements generated by ABRs describing inter-area
routes. Type 3 describes routes to networks and is used for summarization.
The "default-information originate" is also Type 3. Type 4 describes routes to the
ASBR (interareasummary route).

Type 5: Generated by the ASBR and describes links external to the Autonomous
System (AS). These are the redistributed (from other routing protocols including static
routes) routes. Flooded to all areas except stub areas (external route). Routes which
were redistributed into OSPF, such as Connected, Static, or other Routing Protocol,
are known as External Type-2 or External Type-1. These routes are flagged as O
E2 or O E1 in the show ip route command output.

Type 6: Group membership link entry generated by multicast OSPF routers.

Type 7: NSSA external routes generated by ASBR. Only flooded to the
NSSA. External routes injected internally by ASBRs within each POP (Areas other
than Area 0) are LSAs of type 7. The ABR between will translate LASs type 7 to
LSAs type 5 from each POP/Area to Area 0 (external route). When an area is
configured as a Not-So-Stub Area (NSSA), and routes are redistributed into OSPF, the
routes are known as NSSA external type 2 or NSSA external type 1. These routes
are flagged as O N2 orO N1 in the how ip route command output.


OSPF Route Types

There are several types of OSPF routes:

Intra-Area: In a multiarea OSPF network, routes, originated within an area, are
known by the routers in the same area as Intra-Area routes. These routes are flagged
as O in the show ip route command output..

Inter-Area: When a route crosses an OSPF Area Border Router (ABR), the route is
known as an OSPF Inter-Area route. These routes are flagged as O IA in the
show ip route command output.

Both Intra and Inter-Area routes are also called OSPF Internal routes, as they are
generated by OSPF itself, when an interface is covered with the OSPF network
command.

External Routes: They fall under two categories, External Type-1 and External
Type-2. The difference between the two is in the way the cost (metric) of the route is
being calculated. The cost of a Type-2 route is always the external cost, irrespective of
the interior cost to reach that route. A Type-1 cost is the addition of the external cost
and the internal cost used to reach that route. A Type-1 route is always preferred over
a Type-2 route for the same destination.
External Type-2 or External Type-1Routes which were redistributed into OSPF,
such as Connected, Static, or other Routing Protocol, are known as External Type-2 or
External Type-1. These routes are flagged as O E2 or O E1 in the show ip route
command output. External Type-2 is the default.

NSSA external type 2 or NSSA external type 1: When an area is configured as a
Not-So-Stub Area (NSSA), and routes are redistributed into OSPF, the routes are
known as NSSA external type 2 or NSSA external type 1. These routes are flagged
as O N2 or O N1 in the show ip route command output.


OSPF Preferred Route Decision Order

According to section 11 of RFC 2328 , the order of preference for OSPF routes is:

- intra-area routes, O
- interarea routes, O IA
- external routes type 1, O E1
- external routes type 2, O E2

This rule of preference cannot be changed. However, it applies only within a single
OSPF process. If a router is running more than one OSPF process, route comparison
occurs. With route comparison, the metrics and administrative distances (if they have
been changed) of the OSPF processes are compared. Route types are disregarded
when routes supplied by two different OSPF processes are compared.

Realizing where each component of an OSPF network fits is the first step to
understanding how to effectively use OSPF. Cisco provides lots of OSPF design
information and advice. Check out the following links for more information: