OSPF Routing Protocol: Popular and Robust

"Open Shortest Path First is a robust link-state interior gateway protocol (IGP). People use OSPF when they discover that RIP just isn’t going to work for their larger network, or when they need very fast convergence. This installment of Networking 101 will provide a conceptual overview of OSPF, and the second part of our OSPF coverage will delve a bit deeper into the protocol itself, as well as OSPF area configurations.

"OSPF is the most widely used IGP. When we discuss IGPs, we’re talking about one routing domain, or Autonomous System (AS). Imagine a medium-sized company with multiple buildings and departments, all connected together and sharing two redundant Internet links. All of the buildings on-site are part of the same AS. But with OSPF we also have the concept of an Area, which allows further segmentation, perhaps by department in each building."

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