OSPF Basic Topology and the Link-State Database (LSDB)

OSPF is designed to facilitate routing in both smaller and larger ASes. To this end, the protocol supports two topologies. When there is only a small number of routers, the entire AS is managed as a single entity. This doesn't have a specific name, but I call it OSPF basic topology to convey the simple nature of the topology and to contrast it with the hierarchical topology you will explore in the next section.

When OSPF basic topology is used, all the routers in the AS function as peers. Each router communicates routing information with each other one, and each maintains a copy of the key OSPF data structure: the LSDB, which is essentially a computerized representation of the topology of the ...

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