Advanced IP Network Design (CCIE Professional Development)

Dividing the Network for OSPF Implementation

When implementing OSPF on a network, one design decision affects the implementation of everything else. So, it is important that you figure out how you are going to divide the network before beginning with your implementation of OSPF. Area border points will decide where you can do summarization, what areas can be stubby or not, and how the network can grow in the future. The solution to this dilemma tends to be confusing because OSPF uses a two level hierarchy and, here, you're working with a three level hierarchy.

OSPF's two level hierarchy has a core area and areas hanging off of that core. The network uses a three level design with a core, a distribution layer, and an access layer. The third layer ...