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Case Study: - Running OSPF without AREA 0

Author: - Amarjit Singh
Document Type: - Informational

Introduction
Topology used is as shown below

3 Routers are connected with ABR on 3 different AREAs as shown in above topology diagram.
ABR Router connectivity summary:
Interface IP Address OSPF AREA Remote Connected
Router
Interface F0/0 1.1.1.1/30 Area 1 AREA-1
Interface S1/0 2.2.2.1/30 Area 2 AREA-2
Interface E2/0 3.3.3.1/30 Area 3 AREA-3
Interface E2/1 4.4.4.1/24 Reserved for Area 0 AREA-4

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Now without configuring AREA 0, no OSPF routes are showing in the routing table. Only direct
connected routed are available in the routing table as shown below.



FIGURE 1




FIGURE 2
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Also from routers at Area 1, Area 2 & Area 3 only directly connected IPs are pinging.



FIGURE 3










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Now lets have a look after configuring AREA 0 at ABR. Here I am configuring the IP address
4.4.4.1/24 on the Interface E2/1 in OSPF Area 0 (Refer to ABR Router connectivity summary table)



FIGURE 4




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And output of show ip ospf databse on ABR before (FIGURE 5) and after (FIGURE 6) configuring
AREA 0



FIGURE 5


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FIGURE 6

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SUMMARY
OSPF will not run without AREA 0. We must have to configure "AREA 0" to run the OSPF. No OSPF
routes will be shown in "show ip route". Reason behind this is, each area has its own link state databases
which will be shared with AREA 0 only by default. And AREA 0 will then flood the IA routes to other
AREA's.
Exception: If using only one area say area 11 and no other area is there then no need to create AREA0
It means to flood LSA 1 and LSA 2, no need to create area 0, but for all other LSA's to be flooded
properly, say LSA 3, LSA 4, LSA 5 & LSA 7 AREA 0 is must.

Configuration of ABR:
!
version 12.4
service timestamps debug datetime msec
service timestamps log datetime msec
no service password-encryption
!
hostname ABR
!
boot-start-marker
boot-end-marker
!
!
no aaa new-model
memory-size iomem 5
!
!
ip cef
!
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!
!
!
!
!
!
interface Loopback0
ip address 10.10.10.1 255.255.255.255
!
interface FastEthernet0/0
ip address 1.1.1.1 255.255.255.252
duplex auto
speed auto
!
interface Serial1/0
ip address 2.2.2.1 255.255.255.252
serial restart-delay 0
!
interface Serial1/1
no ip address
shutdown
serial restart-delay 0
!
interface Serial1/2
no ip address
shutdown
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serial restart-delay 0
!
interface Serial1/3
no ip address
shutdown
serial restart-delay 0
!
interface Ethernet2/0
ip address 3.3.3.1 255.255.255.252
half-duplex
!
interface Ethernet2/1
ip address 4.4.4.1 255.255.255.0
half-duplex
!
interface Ethernet2/2
no ip address
shutdown
half-duplex
!
interface Ethernet2/3
no ip address
shutdown
half-duplex
!
router ospf 1
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log-adjacency-changes
network 1.1.1.0 0.0.0.3 area 1
network 2.2.2.0 0.0.0.3 area 2
network 3.3.3.0 0.0.0.3 area 3
network 4.4.4.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
!
ip http server
!
!
!
!
control-plane
!
banner motd

***********************
* *
*THIS IS ABR ROUTER*
***********************


!
line con 0
password cisco123
login
line aux 0
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line vty 0 4
password cisco123
login
!
!
end