Multi-Area Adjacency Configuration

Multiple OSPF areas for a same subnet can be configured between two routers. In the diagram below, OSPF is enabled between R2 and R3 under area 0 and area 1, though there is only one link available between these two routers. Multi-area adjacency allows establishing adjacency on multiple areas between the Area Border Routers (ABRs). The specified interface of the ABR is associated with multiple areas.

Each multi-area-adjacency internally implements point-to-point functionality, once the adjacency reaches the FULL state. This point-to-point link provides a topological path for that area. Like a virtual link, there is no restriction for multi‑area adjacency that the packets always go through the backbone.

Topology

Figure 111. One Subnet with Multiple OSPF Areas

Configuration

R1

#configure terminal

Enter configure mode.

(config)#router ospf 1

Configure an OSPF instance with an instance ID of 1.

(config-router)#network 1.1.1.0/24 area 1

Configure OSPF between R1 and R2 under area 1.

(config-router)#commit

Commit the candidate configuration to the running configuration.

(config-router)#exit

Exit Router mode, and return to Configure mode.

R2

#configure terminal

Enter configure mode.

(config)#router ospf 1

Configure an OSPF instance with an instance ID of 1.

(config-router)#network 1.1.1.0/24 area 1

Configure OSPF between R1 and R2 under area 1.

(config-router)#network 2.2.2.0/24 area 0

Configure OSPF between R2 and R3 under area 0.

(config-router)#commit

Commit the candidate configuration to the running configuration.

(config-router)#exit

Exit Router mode, and return to Configure mode.

(config)#interface eth1

Enter interface mode.

(config-if)#ip address 2.2.2.1/24

Configure IP address on the interface.

(config-if)#ip ospf 1 multi-area 0.0.0.1 neighbor 2.2.2.2

Configure multi area adjacency.

(config-if)#commit

Commit the candidate configuration to the running configuration.

(config-if)#exit

Exit interface mode.

R3

#configure terminal

Enter configure mode.

(config)#router ospf 1

Configure an OSPF instance with an instance ID of 1.

(config-router)#network 2.2.2.0/24 area 0

Configure OSPF between R2 and R3 under area 0.

(config-router)#network 3.3.3.0/24 area 1

Configure OSPF between R3 and R4 under area 1.

(config-router)#commit

Commit the candidate configuration to the running configuration.

(config-router)#exit

Exit Router mode, and return to Configure mode.

(config)#interface eth1

Enter interface mode.

(config-if)#ip address 2.2.2.2/24

Configure IP address on the interface.

(config-if)#ip ospf 1 multi-area 0.0.0.1 neighbor 2.2.2.1

Configure multi area adjacency.

(config-if)#commit

Commit the candidate configuration to the running configuration.

(config-if)#exit

Exit interface mode.

R4

#configure terminal

Enter configure mode.

(config)#router ospf 1

Configure an OSPF instance with an instance ID of 1.

(config-router)#network 3.3.3.0/24 area 1

Configure OSPF between R3 and R4 under area 1.

(config-router)#commit

Commit the candidate configuration to the running configuration.

(config-router)#exit

Exit Router mode, and return to Configure mode.

Validation

R2

Copy
R2#show ip ospf multi-area-adjacencies
  Multi-area-adjacency link on interface eth1 to neighbor 2.2.2.2
  Internet Address 2.2.2.1/24, Area 0.0.0.1, MTU 1500
  Process ID 1, Router ID 10.12.26.89, Network Type POINTTOPOINT, Cost: 1
  Transmit Delay is 1 sec, State Point-To-Point, TE Metric 1
  Timer intervals configured, Hello 10, Dead 40, Wait 40, Retransmit 5
    Hello due in 00:00:00
  Neighbor Count is 1, Adjacent neighbor count is 1
  Hello received 16 sent 53, DD received 3 sent 4
  LS-Req received 1 sent 1, LS-Upd received 10 sent 5
  LS-Ack received 3 sent 9, Discarded 0
 
R2#show ip ospf neighbor
 
Total number of full neighbors: 3
OSPF process 1 VRF(default):
Neighbor ID     Pri   State            Dead Time   Address         Interface           Instance ID
10.12.26.88       1   Full/DR          00:00:35    1.1.1.1         eth2                    0
10.12.26.90       1   Full/Backup      00:00:33    2.2.2.2         eth1                    0
10.12.26.90       1   Full/ -          00:00:35    2.2.2.2         eth1
 
R2#show ip ospf route
 
OSPF process 1:
Codes: C - connected, D - Discard, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
       N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
       E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
 
C  1.1.1.0/24 [1] is directly connected, eth2, Area 0.0.0.1
C  2.2.2.0/24 [1] is directly connected, eth1, Area 0.0.0.0
O  3.3.3.0/24 [2] via 2.2.2.2, eth1, Area 0.0.0.1
 
 
R2#show ip route
Codes: K - kernel, C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, B - BGP
       O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
       N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
       E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
       i - IS-IS, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2, ia - IS-IS inter area
       * - candidate default
 
IP Route Table for VRF "default"
C       1.1.1.0/24 is directly connected, eth2
C       2.2.2.0/24 is directly connected, eth1
O       3.3.3.0/24 [110/2] via 2.2.2.2, eth1, 00:05:44
C       10.12.26.0/24 is directly connected, eth0
C       127.0.0.0/8 is directly connected, lo
 
Gateway of last resort is not set

R3

Copy
R3#show ip ospf multi-area-adjacencies
  Multi-area-adjacency link on interface eth1 to neighbor 2.2.2.1
  Internet Address 2.2.2.2/24, Area 0.0.0.1, MTU 1500
  Process ID 1, Router ID 10.12.26.90, Network Type POINTTOPOINT, Cost: 1
  Transmit Delay is 1 sec, State Point-To-Point, TE Metric 1
  Timer intervals configured, Hello 10, Dead 40, Wait 40, Retransmit 5
    Hello due in 00:00:05
  Neighbor Count is 1, Adjacent neighbor count is 1
  Hello received 41 sent 41, DD received 4 sent 3
  LS-Req received 1 sent 1, LS-Upd received 5 sent 10
  LS-Ack received 8 sent 3, Discarded 0
 
R3#sh ip ospf neighbor
 
Total number of full neighbors: 3
OSPF process 1 VRF(default):
Neighbor ID     Pri   State            Dead Time   Address         Interface           Instance ID
10.12.26.89       1   Full/DR          00:00:39    2.2.2.1         eth1                    0
10.12.26.92       1   Full/Backup      00:00:36    3.3.3.2         eth2                    0
10.12.26.89       1   Full/ -          00:00:30    2.2.2.1         eth1
R3#sh ip ospf route
 
OSPF process 1:
Codes: C - connected, D - Discard, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
       N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
       E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
 
O  1.1.1.0/24 [2] via 2.2.2.1, eth1, Area 0.0.0.1
C  2.2.2.0/24 [1] is directly connected, eth1, Area 0.0.0.0
C  3.3.3.0/24 [1] is directly connected, eth2, Area 0.0.0.1
 
R3#sh ip route
Codes: K - kernel, C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, B - BGP
       O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
       N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
       E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
       i - IS-IS, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2, ia - IS-IS inter area
       * - candidate default
 
IP Route Table for VRF "default"
O       1.1.1.0/24 [110/2] via 2.2.2.1, eth1, 00:07:31
C       2.2.2.0/24 is directly connected, eth1
C       3.3.3.0/24 is directly connected, eth2
C       10.12.26.0/24 is directly connected, eth0
C       127.0.0.0/8 is directly connected, lo
 
Gateway of last resort is not set