What is Open Shortest Path First OSPF?
Open Shortest Path First OSPF Definition: An interior gateway routing protocol developed for IP networks based on the shortest path first or link-state algorithm.
Understanding Open Shortest Path First OSPF
An interior gateway routing protocol developed for IP networks based on the shortest path first or link-state algorithm. OSPF is a link-state routing protocol that enables routers to dynamically determine the best path for network traffic based on current network conditions. It builds a complete topology map of the network and calculates the shortest path tree using the Dijkstra algorithm. OSPF is defined in RFC 2328 OSPFv2 and RFC 5340 OSPFv3 with security considerations in various RFCs. Organizations implement OSPF through router configuration area design authentication mechanisms and monitoring systems to ensure network resilience. For example a large enterprise might implement OSPF with hierarchical areas to efficiently route traffic across its internal network using MD5 authentication between routers to prevent unauthorized devices from participating in the routing protocol and potentially causing routing table corruption. Related terms Routing protocol Link state Interior gateway protocol Autonomous system Routing table Network convergence MD5 authentication.