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Configuring OSPF Interfaces

You can configure OSPF attributes for either a single OSPF network by using the address commands, or for all OSPF networks on a particular media interface by using the ip ospf commands.

The size of the OSPF maximum transmission unit (MTU) is negotiated rather than configured. OSPF database description exchange uses the interface MTU to signal the largest OSPF MTU that can be sent over an OSPF interface without fragmentation.

Configuring OSPF attributes for OSPF networks includes setting the following:

address Commands

You can use the address area command to create a new OSPF interface. Use the other address commands to configure parameters for OSPF interfaces that already exist.

The address commands configure OSPF attributes for a single OSPF network. The ip ospf commands configure OSPF attributes for all OSPF networks in the given interface context—for example, in a multinet environment where multiple IP networks sit on top of an Ethernet interface.

NOTE: You must first issue the address area command before issuing any other address command.


address area

address cost

address dead-interval

address hello-interval

address passive-interface

address priority

address retransmit-interval

address transmit-delay

ip ospf and ipv6 ospf Commands

The ip ospf commands have two effects on interface configuration. These effects apply to all ip ospf commands:

The ip ospf command configures the specified OSPF parameters for all networks configured on the given IP interface—for example, all multinetted addresses on an interface.

The no version of the command resets the specified parameters to unspecified.

If the no version of the command takes effect for a specified IP interface, there is no default value for the specified parameters. The parameter is set back to unspecified values. However, the value of the specified parameter for the OSPF interface is set back to the default value or the value previously specified by the address command.

NOTE: The ip ospf commands configure OSPF attributes for all OSPF networks in the given interface context—for example, in a multinet environment where multiple IP networks sit on top of an Ethernet interface. The address commands configure OSPF attributes for a single OSPF interface.


The ip ospf command configures the specified OSPF parameters for each OSPF interface that sits on top of the IP interface.

The no version of the command restores the specified parameters to the default values.

NOTE: We recommend using address commands to set attributes of OSPF interfaces created using the address area command.


ipv6 ospf area

ip ospf cost

        ipv6 ospf cost

ip ospf dead-interval

        ipv6 ospf dead-interval

ip ospf hello-interval

        ipv6 ospf hello-interval

    ipv6 ospf mtu-ignore

ipv6 ospf network

ip ospf priority

        ipv6 ospf priority

ip ospf retransmit-interval

        ipv6 ospf retransmit-interval

ip ospf transmit-delay

        ipv6 ospf transmit-delay

Comparison Example

In the following example you configure a range of OSPF interfaces with the network area command.

host1(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/0
host1(config-if)#ip address 1.1.1.1 255.255.255.0
host1(config-if)#ip address 2.2.2.2 255.255.255.0 secondary
host1(config-if)#exit
host1(config)#router ospf 1
host1(config-router)#network 1.1.1.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
host1(config-router)#network 2.2.2.0 0.0.0.255 area 0

If you want to specify the cost, you can do so for both interfaces simultaneously.

host1(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/0
host1(config-if)#ip ospf cost 30

You can use address commands to create a third OSPF interface over the Ethernet interface. When you specify a cost, you set it for only that interface.

host1(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/0
host1(config-if)#ip address 3.3.3.3 255.255.255.0 secondary
host1(config-if)#exit
host1(config)#router ospf 1
host1(config-router)#address 3.3.3.3 area 0
host1(config-router)#address 3.3.3.3 cost 25

Precedence of Commands

For a single OSPF interface, when you modify the same OSPF attribute by issuing both the ip ospf command and the address command, the value configured with the address command takes precedence. In other words, the most specific command for a single OSPF interface takes precedence.

Consider the following example. Suppose you have a numbered IP interface with an IP address of 10.10.1.1/24 sitting on top of Fast Ethernet interface 0/0. Configure a single OSPF interface on top of the IP interface.

host1(config)#router ospf 100
host1(router-config)#address 10.10.1.1 area 0

The default cost for this OSPF interface is 10. Change the cost for this OSPF interface by using the address cost command.

host1(router-config)#address 10.10.1.1 cost 45

The cost for OSPF interface 10.10.1.1 is now 45.

Now use the ip ospf cost command to change the cost for this OSPF interface.

host1(config)#int fastEthernet 0/0
host1(config-if)#ip ospf cost 23

The cost of OSPF interface 10.10.1.1 does not change. The previously issued address cost command is more specific for the interface and takes precedence over the ip ospf cost command. You must use the address cost command if you want to change the cost again.

host1(router-config)#address 10.10.1.1 cost 23

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