User guide

Configuring OSPF OSPF Overview
OmniSwitch AOS Release 7 Advanced Routing Configuration Guide March 2015 page 1-7
OSPF Overview
Open Shortest Path First routing (OSPF) is a shortest path first (SPF), or link-state, protocol. OSPF is an
interior gateway protocol (IGP) that distributes routing information between routers in a Single
Autonomous System (AS). OSPF chooses the least-cost path as the best path.
Each participating router distributes its local state (i.e., the router’s usable interfaces, local networks, and
reachable neighbors) throughout the AS by flooding. In a link-state protocol, each router maintains a
database describing the entire topology. This database is built from the collected link state advertisements
of all routers. Each multi-access network that has at least two attached routers has a designated router and
a backup designated router. The designated router floods a link state advertisement for the multi-access
network.
When a router starts, it uses the OSPF Hello Protocol to discover neighbors. The router sends Hello
packets to its neighbors, and in turn receives their Hello packets. On broadcast and point-to-point
networks, the router dynamically detects its neighboring routers by sending Hello packets to a multicast
address. On non-broadcast and point-to-multipoint networks, some configuration information is necessary
in order to configure neighbors. On all networks (broadcast or non-broadcast), the Hello Protocol also
elects a designated router for the network.
OSPF Hello Protocol
The router will attempt to form full adjacencies with all of its newly acquired neighbors. Only some pairs,
however, will be successful in forming full adjacencies. Topological databases are synchronized between
pairs of fully adjacent routers.
Adjacencies control the distribution of routing protocol packets. Routing protocol packets are sent and
received only on adjacencies. In particular, distribution of topological database updates proceeds along
adjacencies.
Link state is also advertised when a router’s state changes. A router’s adjacencies are reflected in the
contents of its link state advertisements. This relationship between adjacencies and link state allows the
protocol to detect downed routers in a timely fashion.
Link state advertisements are flooded throughout the AS. The flooding algorithm ensures that all routers
have exactly the same topological database. This database consists of the collection of link state
advertisements received from each router belonging to the area. From this database each router calculates
a shortest-path tree, with itself as root. This shortest-path tree in turn yields a routing table for the
protocol.
Hello. Please respond...
Are you a neighbor...
Hello. Please respond...
Are you a neighbor...
My link state is...
My link state is...