Area types

OSPFv2 areas can be normal, a stub area, a totally stubby area (TSA), or a not-so-stubby area (NSSA).

• Normal: OSPFv2 devices within a normal area can send and receive external link-state advertisements (LSAs).
• Stub: OSPFv2 devices within a stub area cannot send or receive external LSAs. In addition, OSPFv2 devices in a stub area must use a default route to the area’s Area Border Router (ABR) to send traffic out of the area.
• NSSA: The Autonomous System Boundary Router (ASBR) of an NSSA can import external route information into the area.
  • ASBRs redistribute (import) external routes into the NSSA as type 7 LSAs. Type 7 External LSAs are a special type of LSA generated only by ASBRs within an NSSA, and are flooded to all the routers within only that NSSA.
  • ABRs translate type 7 LSAs into type 5 External LSAs, which can then be flooded throughout the autonomous system. The NSSA translator converts a type 7 LSA to a type 5 LSA if F-bit and P-bit are set and there is a reachable forwarding address. You can configure summary-addresses on the ABR of an NSSA so that the ABR converts multiple type 7 external LSAs received from the NSSA into a single type 5 external LSA.

  When an NSSA contains more than one ABR, OSPFv2 elects one of the ABRs to perform the LSA translation for NSSA. OSPFv2 elects the ABR with the highest router ID. If the elected ABR becomes unavailable, OSPFv2 automatically elects the ABR with the next highest router ID to take over translation of LSAs for the NSSA. The election process for NSSA ABRs is automatic.

• TSA: Similar to a stub area, a TSA does not allow summary routes in addition to not having external routes.