Open Shortest path First (OSPF) Hello Packet

OSPF runs directly over Internet Protocol(IP) using its own protocol 89. OSPF packets should always be sent with the IP Type od Service byte set to zero. If possible, OSPF (data packets|packets} should be treated with better preference compared to normal IP data, both when being sent and being received. As an aid, OSPF data packets should have Internet Protocol(IP) TOS Byte field set to Internetwork Control. All OSPF packets have a same protocol header. Every OSPF packet begins with a standard twenty-four byte protocol header. This OSPF Protocol header carries every piece of information required to determine if the packet needs to be accepted for further data processing. Following are the various OSPF data packet types - Hello Packets - Packets - OSPF Link State Request Packets - Type 4 - LS Update Packets - LS Acknowledgment Packets Digging deeper intoOSPF Hello Packets OSPF Hello packets are used create format: >>> The 1st bit in the OSPF Options field has been reserved for futuristic purposes. IOS Routers by Cisco also do not use EA and MC bits. >>> The O bit is used for opaque LSAs, as discussed in RFC 2370. >>> DC bitis is used for demand circuit capabilities, mentioned in RFC 1793. >>> EA bit has been implemented for the external attributes. >>> N/P is is utilized for not-so-stubby area(NSSA) option, mentioned in RFC 1587 >>> MC bit designates multicast OSPF >>> The E bit when set to on, means that external Link State Advertisements are allowed in this area >>> The T bit has been implemented for ToS capability (normally set to 0) > Rtr Pri It has been implemented for a router's priority. The default value is set as one. This field has a very important role in selecting the DR and the BDR. bigger priority increases the chances of the OSPF Router will become the DR. A priority of zero means that this router should not participate in DR election process. > Router Dead Interval It is the numeric value, in seconds, before a neighbor is declared dead. By default, the dead interval is 4x times the vaue of Hello interval.

> Designated Router Lists the address of the designated router. If no DR is present, this field carries a value of 0.0.0.0. The Designated Router is selected through the Hello protocol. The router with the highest priority value is selected as the DR. If the priorities clash, the OSPF Router with the highest router ID is selected as the designated router. The purpose of the DR is to decrease the number of OSPF Flooding on multiaccess media types. The Designated Router uses multicasting to reduce the amount of flooded traffic. All routers flood their LSDB to the Designated Router, and the DR then passes that information back to other OSPF routers on that media. No DRs/BDRs is present on point-to-point or point-to-multipoint segments. > Backup Designated Router(BDR) This field identifies the BackUp Designated Router and carries the interface IP address of the BackUp Designated Router. If no BackUp Designated Router(BDR) exists, this field has a value of 0.0.0.0. The BackUp Designated Router is also selected through the OSPF Hello protocol. The need of the BackUp Designated Router(BDR) is to act as the backup of the Designated Router, for a smoother transition in case the Designated Router dies. OSPF Hello Packet