Like RIP routers, OSPF routers also use broadcasts, but only to publish local information, and only when that information changes. For example, an OSPF router will issue a broadcast when it first comes on-line, publishing routes for the networks that it is physically attached to or that it has been explicitly configured to publish.
Other OSPF routers make a note of these newly-available networks, and until something else changes, no other routing broadcasts are issued. OSPF routing broadcasts do not bog down networks like RIP does. However, OSPF also requires greater intelligence on the router, and is more difficult to implement. NetWare 4.11 offers support for OSPF, but this support is not found in NetWare 3.1x servers (unless Novell's Multi-Protocol Router is purchased separately).
OSPF networks require a considerable amount of planning and administration, and are therefore not appropriate for smaller networks that do not require the low-bandwidth consumption of OSPF. These networks are better off using static routing, or the RIP protocol. For information on manually-defined routing maps, refer to section B.4.1 Static Routing. For more information on RIP, refer to section B.4.2 Routing Information Protocol (RIP).
Copyright © 1997, Unoverica Corporation. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
Send comments to docs@unoverica.com