Introduction
Within OSPF, links become synonymous with interfaces.
Some of the advantages OSPF has include:
- Support for heirarchical network design through the use of areas.
- Use of link state databases which reduce the chance of routing loops.
- Full support for VLSM (Variable Length Subnet Mask)/Classes routing.
- Uses route summarization to reduce the routing table size.
- Incremental updates, where routing updates are sent only when a change is made – less bandwidth/CPU used.
- Uses multicast packets, so devices not running OSPF are not bothered by those that are.
- Supports MD5 authentication, for increased routing security.