OSPF 'Link State Request' question...

[mmanthe]

It is my understanding that, when initially forming a neighbor adjacency in OSPF routers will exchange Database Descriptors. Based on the headers received during this exchange, the routers will then send each other Link State Requests for any info (learned in the prior exchange) that they do not have in order to sync databases. Once this process is complete and the routers are 'FULL' neighbors - it is also my understanding that Database Descriptors will not be exchanged again (as long as the status remains 'FULL'). As such, does this mean that Link State Requests will also not be exchanged again? IOW, is there any other purpose in OSPF for Link State Requests beyond database sync'ing?

Thanks! 

-Mike Manthe

[Julio E. Moisa]

Hi

Usually this kind of packet is seen when the OSPF needs to keep the information updated and the last stage in bringing up an adjacency, when the database is sync, link-state requests/updates are sent to the neighbors to keep the information updated. 

[mmanthe]

Thanks for the reply! I know that throughout the course of a given adjacency, Link State *Updates* are occasionally sent out to account for changes in an area/link/network/etc. - but to my knowledge, those are unsolicited. So, it seems like (at least from what I can gather), once 2 neighbors reach a state of ‘FULL’, neither would ever send the other a Link State Request again. But - I can’t find that written anywhere ‘officially’. It’s really just a curiosity. 

Thanks!

-Mike Manthe