Nortel Networks 212777 Types of OSPF Areas

WebOS 10.0 Application Guide
70 Chapter 4: OSPF 212777-A, February 2002
Types of OSPF Areas
An AS can be broken into logical units known as areas. In any AS with multiple areas, one
area must be designated as area 0, known as the backbone. The backbone acts as the central
OSPF area. All other areas in the AS must be connected to the backbone. Areas inject sum-
mary routing information into the backbone, which then distributes it to other areas as needed.
As shown in Figure 4-1, OSPF defines the following types of areas:
nStub Area—an area that is connected to only one other area. External route information is
not distributed into stub areas.
nNot-So-Stubby-Area (NSSA)—similar to a stub area with additional capabilities. Routes
originating from within the NSSA can be propagated to adjacent transit and backbone
areas. External routes from outside the AS can be advertised within the NSSA but are not
distributed into other areas.
nTransit Area—an area that allows area summary information to be exchanged between
routing devices. The backbone (area 0), any area that contains a virtual link to connect two
areas, and any area that is not a stub area or an NSSA are considered transit areas.
Figure 4-1 OSPF Area Types
Backbone
Area 0
Stub Area
Not-So-Stubby Area
(NSSA)
Transit Area
No External Routes
from Backbone
Stub Area, NSSA,
or Transit Area
Connected to Backbone
via Virtual Link
(Also a Transit Area)
External LSA
Routes
Internal LSA
Routes
ABR ABR
ABR
ASBR
Non-OSPF Area
RIP/BGP AS
Virtual
Link
ABR
ABR = Area Border Router
ASBR= Autonomous System
Boundary Router