OSPF Hellos and LSAs

RFC 2328 - OSPF Version 2, identifies five major network interface types and five different
OSPF protocol packet types. In addition, the RFC identifies the method each network
interface type uses to transmit the OSPF protocol packet types (Hello and LSA packets),
either via multicast or unicast. The table below summarizes the information contained in the
RFC.

Network Interface Type Hellos LSAs

Point-to-Point (P2P) Multicast Multicast
Point-to-Multipoint (P2MP) Unicast Unicast
Broadcast Multicast Multicast
Non-broadcast multiple access (NBMA) Unicast Unicast
Virtual Link Unicast Unicast

Hello Packets - are sent out each functioning router interface according to the network type.
They are used to discover and maintain neighbor relationships and adjacencies. On
Broadcast and NBMA networks, they are also used to elect the Designated Router (DR) and
Backup Designated Router (BDR).

LSA Packets - are sent out each functioning router interface according to the network type.
This includes Link State Update packets, Link State Acknowledgment packets, and Link State
Request packets. LSA retransmissions are always sent directly to the neighbor as unicasts.

Unicast - the method in which the majority of OSPF routing protocol packets are sent. That
is, they are sent directly to the neighbor at the other end of the adjacency.

Multicast - another method for sending OSPF routing protocol packets. Used mainly on
Broadcast and P2P networks. Two different multicast addresses are used.

AllSPFRouters - this is the multicast address 224.0.0.5 and is used by all routers running
OSPF to receive packets sent to this address. Also, used during the flooding procedure for
certain OSPF protocol packets.

AllDRouters - this is the multicast address 224.0.0.6 and is used by the designated router
(DR) and backup designated router (BDR) to receive packets sent to this address. Also, used
during the flooding procedure for certain OSPF protocol packets.

OSPF uses IP protocol number 89.

Reference: RFC 2328 OSPF Version 2, April 1998.

2010 BTS Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.