OSPF Complete Implementation

3. Software Architecture

We introduce the OSPF software implementation by looking at its organization. We approach the organization in two ways. First, we look at how data—OSPF protocol packets and LSAs—flow through the implementation. Then we examine the major data structures, their roles, and their interactions. This chapter ends with a description of the source file organization, so that people can navigate the sources more easily. This chapter does not discuss multicast routing; a discussion of MOSPF’s data flow and data structures is provided in Chapter 12, MOSPF Implementation.

3.1. Data Flow

The data flow through the OSPF implementation is pictured in Figure 3.1. Some code must be written to port the OSPF implementation to a new platform. ...