Configuring the Designated Router Priority for OSPF

A routing device advertises its priority to become a designated router in its hello packets. On all multiaccess networks, the Hello protocol uses the advertised priorities to elect a designated router for the network. This routing device is responsible for sending network link advertisements, which describe all the routing devices attached to the network. These advertisements are flooded throughout a single area.

At least one routing device on each logical IP network or subnet must be eligible to be the designated router for OSPFv2. At least one routing device on each logical link must be eligible to be the designated router for OSPFv3.

A routing device’s priority for becoming the designated router is indicated by an arbitrary number from 0 through 255, with a higher value indicating a greater likelihood of becoming the designated router. By default, routing devices have a priority value of 128. A value of 1 means that the routing device has the least chance of becoming a designated router. A value of 0 marks the routing device as ineligible to become the designated router.

To modify the routing device’s priority value, include the priority statement:

For a list of hierarchy levels at which you can include this statement, see the statement summary section for this statement.