OSPF training course description

A detailed hands on examination of OSPF. Hands on sessions are used to reinforce the theory rather than teach specific manufacturer equipment. The course starts with a recap of reading routing tables and then jumps straight in with simple OSPF configuration. OSPF features are then studied and configured before moving onto how OSPF works within an area. Multi area OSPF is then studied before looking at OSPF operation in detail by analysing OSPF packets. Finally areas are covered again in more detail followed by troubleshooting.

What will you learn

• Design OSPF networks.
• Design IP addressing schemes suitable for route summarisation.
• Troubleshoot OSPF networks.
• Describe the operation of OSPF.

OSPF training course details

OSPF training course contents

• Basic routing and OSPF

Reading routing tables, routing protocols, What is OSPF? Process IDs, passive interfaces.
Hands on Simple OSPF configuration.

• OSPF

History of OSPF, metrics, costs, convergence, Distance Vector vs. Link state routing protocols, IGPs, classless, OSPF features, load sharing, per packet/destination, OSPF authentication.
Hands on Configuring OSPF features.

• OSPF within an area

How OSPF works, LSDB, LSDB benefits and disadvantages, LSA types, Type 1 and 2, LSA propagation, router IDs, hellos, configuring hellos, the exchange protocol.
Hands on Investigating OSPF structures.

• Areas

Scalability, why areas? Area IDs, area 0, ABRs, ABR resilience, areas & LSDBs, areas & LSAs, Type 3 LSAs, virtual links.
Hands on Multi area OSPF.

• Redistribution

Multiple routing protocols, common scenarios, routing distance, External LSAs, E1 and E2. Type 4 LSAs. OSPF and default routes.
Hands on Configuring static route redistribution.

• Route aggregation

Route summarisation. How to aggregate, ABR summarisation, ASBR summarisation.
Hands on OSPF address summarisation.

• OSPF packet formats

OSPF packets, protocol stack, OSPF stages, packet flows, packet types, the OSPF header, multicasts, Hello, DDB, LS request, LS update, LS ACK, LSA header, LSA formats, neighbours, neighbour states, DRs, adjacencies, BDRs, DR election.
Hands on Analysing OSPF packets, troubleshooting.

• OSPF network types

BMA, NBMA, Point to point links.
Hands on Configuring OSPF over Frame Relay.

• OSPF stub areas

LSA types, area types, area architecture, stub areas, default routes, benefits and disadvantages of stub areas, TSSAs, NSSAs, Type 7 LSAs.
Hands on Stub and TSSA configuration.

• The OSPF MIB

SNMP overview, MIB 2, the OSPF MIB, OSPF MIB groups, useful objects, OSPF traps.
Hands on the OSPF MIB. troubleshooting.

• Summary

RFCs, OSPF design guidelines.

• OSPF variants (appendix)

OSPF on demand, MOSPF, multicast overview, Type 6 LSAs, OSPF for IPv6 (OSPFv3).

Learning path

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