Protocols Supported
Historically, all routed protocols have had their own independent routing protocols: AppleTalk uses Routing Table Maintenance Protocol (RTMP), Novell uses Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) RIP, and IP uses RIP, IGRP, or OSPF. This is conceptually simple to understand, but it is often difficult to implement. Yet, it is necessary for network engineers to design and operate networks that support multiprotocol environments. Therefore, they need to be able to manage a mix of routing protocols.
OSPF supports only the TCP/IP protocol suite. Although TCP/IP is the most popular suite in use today, it is not the only one being used. The inability of a routing protocol to support other protocols can be a detriment to legacy networks or networks with unique routing needs.
When IS-IS was created, the protocol designers asked a significant question: Why can't one routing protocol handle multiple routed protocols? Consequently, integrated IS-IS was enhanced to support both OSI CLNP and TCP/IP networks. In addition, integrated IS-IS supports other network protocols; this can be of great benefit in a multiprotocol network.
In this tutorial:
- OSPF Basics
- What Is a Routing Protocol?
- Basic Routing Protocol Operation
- Link-State Versus Distance Vector Routing Protocols
- Link-State Routing Protocols
- OSPF Characteristics
- Integrated Intermediate System-to-Intermediate System
- Distance Vector Routing Protocols
- Selecting a Routing Protocol
- Operational Considerations
- Protocols Supported
- Routing Hierarchies
- IP Address Management
- IP Encapsulation Support
- Technical Considerations
- Routing Updates
- Scalability
- Business Considerations
- SPF Overview
- OSPF Routing Hierarchy
- Hierarchical Network Design Techniques
- Routing Types Within an OSPF Network
- External Routes
- OSPF Areas
- Characteristics of a Standard OSPF Area
- Stub Areas
- Not-So-Stubby Areas
- OSPF Operational Environment
- Types of OSPF Routers
- OSPF Network Types
- Router Identification
- Neighbors
- Adjacencies
