09-10-2008 01:06 AM - edited 03-06-2019 01:17 AM
Hi all, Im in process of puttinga distribution layer into my network, whicj is routed to the core. My question is, should I put it all in the same area? or would I have different areas? what is the benefit of having these different areas?
09-10-2008 01:29 AM
Hello Carl,
using multiple areas provides the following main benefits:
- allows for reduction of SPF recalculations if a topology changes happens in area 5 only routers that have at least one interface in area 5 will need to run SPF again
- the area border routers connecting area 0 and area 5 have the chance to perform area summarization with the area range command so reducing the number of prefixes needed in the OSPF domain and helping stability: this can be combined with first point: if a subnet member of an aggregate fails this info does not travel out area 5 and routers out area 5 will not perform any recalculation.
- allows for control of what routing info to send into or out an area: using area based filters or playing with the area type like using stub or no so stubby area you can accomodate cases where a prefix is needed inside area 7 but shouldn't go out of area 7.
Without using areas you cannot perform summarization of internal routes.
the requirement is that all areas need to connect to area 0 and traffic between two areas is sent via area 0.
I would use a multi-area approach because it provides you options that can be useful in the future and provides better scalability.
Hope to help
Giuseppe
09-10-2008 01:36 AM
Giuseppe this is 5+ :)
09-10-2008 03:04 AM
hi there, what is the command to summarise ospf? do you do it on the interface or under the router config?
cheers
09-10-2008 03:12 AM
if u have ABR which is the router between two areas
lets say u have area 2 that has
192.168.1.0
192.168.2.0
192.168.3.0
192.168.4.0
u can sumrized like
for example
router ospf 1
area 2 range 192.168.1.0 255.255.252.0
and in the routing table of nieghbors this route will apear like
0 IA 192.168.1.0/22
if helpful Rate
09-10-2008 03:56 AM
Hi there, do you have to use the range command?
can you not use the summary address command ?
09-10-2008 04:05 AM
first sorry i put the
IPs wrong by mistake
bsed on the four networks the summary shoud looks like
area 2 range 192.168.1.0 255.255.248.0
and will apear on the routing table as
/21 because they are four networks
about ur question it is good question
in ospf there are two trypes of summarization intra area sumarization which is the one i sent u this one between ospf areas and the is a comman ip summary address this one used with ospf ASBR which summarize routes from external routing like rip, eigrp into ospf
this is the deffrnece between the use of those two commands
good luck
if helpful Rate
09-11-2008 12:20 AM
Dear Carl,
The decision to have multiple areas depends on multiple factors.
1. Number of links in an area.
2. Size of routing table
3. Number of L3 devices.
4. SPF calculations...
09-11-2008 02:17 AM
Hi There
The design is this
20 stacks of layer 2 switches, these connect to an access distribution layer, the dist layer will be there gateway. There will be about 15 vlans on there. this will then connect to the core routers. there will also be a server access/dist layer which connects to the core, there will be around 6 vlans on them dist switches.
what would be best here ?
09-11-2008 02:38 AM
Hi,
Can you explain your complete network. The information provided is very minimal. I could make out that there are very few L3 links. Is OSPF already deployed in your network? If Yes then what is the architecture? If it is not deployed, Then Why are you looking for OSPF for the described network ?
09-11-2008 03:43 AM
there will me minimal layer 3 links to the core, probably something like an etherchannel to each core from the distribution switches, we do not use ospf or any other routing protocol at the moment, however its something we want to do.
Another quick question, if we did have our core as area 0 and the distribution switches in another area, where would we put both areas, on the core or the dist switches, ie which would be the abr's?
thanks
Carl
09-11-2008 03:48 AM
carl
the ABR shoul dbe the one between two areas
like access switches--dist--SVIs in area 1--- core uplinks network area 0---
so the dist is the ABR
and the summary will be from area 1
like the example i have given to u the core will see only summary route from area 1 for less CPU and route calculations
good luck
and hope this helpful
09-11-2008 04:15 AM
Carl,
I suggest you to go with Single area as you have very few L2 links. How ever for smaller setups, it is not recommanded to go with a routing protocol. You can very well have a highly available network (By using floating static routes or IP SLA configured) with static routing as well. If you want to go with Multi area, you need to freeze the scope of the area first, that which devices will be in area 0 and which will be in other areas.
09-11-2008 05:49 AM
hi there, thanks for your input,
what is the recommendations for knowing when to have another area rather than one, ie number of links/subnets etc?
Also is it possible to redistribute another companys ospf into ours, how would we do this if both companys have a backbone area?
Discover and save your favorite ideas. Come back to expert answers, step-by-step guides, recent topics, and more.
New here? Get started with these tips. How to use Community New member guide