OSPF Path Selection in Area 0

[linz cyber security]

Hi, I am doing a school project and I have been trying to figure out how to configure OSPF to prefer the direct path between Area 1 and 2 (that is, the path between Router 3 and Router 5), in the diagram attached to this post. Can anyone guide me accordingly? I will most appreciate it. 

[MHM Cisco World · Accepted solution]

R3-R5 link cost must be lower than other path 
so in R3 & R5

inter x
ip ospf cost x

[linz cyber security · Accepted solution]

So let me be sure I understand what you are saying. In R3 and R5 I need to set the cost manually to be lower than that of R4? And that this is done by entering the following commands into the CLI on both routers:

inter x
ip ospf cost x

One final question, what does x stands for in both line of command, the cost? 

[linz cyber security]

thanks much will make the changes and let you know when I am successful. Thanks for guiding me in the right direction.

[David Ruess · Accepted solution]

Hello,

You can configure the cost on the links as @MHM suggested, and yes "x" is the cost. The cost needs to lower going from R3 to R5 that going from R3 to R4 to R5. 

However, keep in mind that could also change traffic for R4 and send it routing through R3 to get to R5. Make sure you understand how that affects the topology as a whole when you change metrics.

-David

[linz cyber security]

thanks much will make the changes and let you know when I am successful. Thanks for guiding me in the right direction.