21 mins read

OSPF Basic config

1. Intro

In this post we will apply OSPF basic config on our test network. We have 2 areas; one of them will be a Totally NSSA area.

In the next post will do some OSPF route summarization on the same topology.

2. OSPF Basic config

We will configure a topology with multiple areas:

  • backbone area 0 (mandatory(in multi-area OSPF designs)
  • area 1
  • area 2 (Totally NSSA area)

The topology is the following:

OSPF Basic Config

We also have multiple redistribution points. where we take external routes and redistribute them to OSPF: the 1.1.x.x/24, 2.2.x.x/24, 3.3.x.x/24 and 4.4.x.x/24 external routes. This will help us to understand the config needed for redistribution and also understand how different external routes behave under different conditions/areas/settings.

The 10.x.x.x/24 routes are OSPF internal prefixes, the are part of the OSPF database and configured using the passive interfaces.

Let’s check the config:

Now we can check the OSPF database and routing table.

R1 output:
R3 output:
R7 output:

3. Area 2 – no-summaries

If we want more route control we can control different area options.

For example, in Area 2 we don’t want any summaries:

Now, Area 2 doesn’t have any more summaries in the database, exactly what we wanted.

4. Area 2 – default-lsa

But there is a problem, Area 2 has no routes or connectivity outside to other areas and the rest of the network.

To fix this, we want a default-lsa in Area 2 and use that for outside connectivity.  You must configure the default-metric option on the ABR before it advertises a default route.

With the default-lsa advertised to Area 2, now it is effectively a Totally NSSA area:


External Resources: