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HANDS-ON OSPF TRAINING

OSPF
Mastery.

Understand the protocol.
Know what to check next.

Build practical OSPF skills through 13 guided workbooks and ready-to-run labs. Configure the network, verify its behavior and work through the faults.

Get OSPF Mastery — $27
Explore the 13 workbooks ↘

$97 $27 one-time payment Lifetime access

OSPF Mastery workbook collection — conceptual illustration Three layered workbook sheets, with OSPF and 13 on the front cover, sit beside a network diagram connecting routers across Area 0 and Area 1. This is a conceptual illustration, not a screenshot of a workbook. AREA 0 AREA 1 OSPF WORKBOOK COLLECTION 13

13

Guided workbooks

2

Config versions

∞

Lifetime practice

THE OSPF WORKBOOK COLLECTION

13 workbooks.
One protocol, understood.

From the first adjacency to a complete troubleshooting challenge. Explore each workbook to see what you’ll practice.

WORKBOOK

01

Running OSPF on the Interfaces — simplified topology overview R1 connects directly to R2. R2 and R3 connect to the same vertical network segment, with R3 below and to the right of R2. Device positions and links follow the source topology. IP addresses, interface names and loopback addresses are omitted for readability. R1 R2 R3

Running OSPF on the Interfaces

INTERFACES

Configure OSPF on the interfaces and follow how routers establish their first neighbor relationships.

Running OSPF on the Interfaces — simplified topology overview R1 connects directly to R2. R2 and R3 connect to the same vertical network segment, with R3 below and to the right of R2. Device positions and links follow the source topology. IP addresses, interface names and loopback addresses are omitted for readability. R1 R2 R3

Scenario overview · IP and interface labels omitted

WORKBOOK

02

OSPF Broadcast Networks — Task 1 — simplified topology overview R1 and R2 sit above a shared broadcast LAN. R3 and R4 connect below the same LAN. There is no switch device in the source diagram. Device positions and links follow the source topology. IP addresses, interface names and loopback addresses are omitted for readability. R1 R2 R3 R4 Shared broadcast LAN

Broadcast Networks

NEIGHBORS

Explore neighbor formation and DR/BDR elections on a shared network.

OSPF Broadcast Networks — Task 1 — simplified topology overview R1 and R2 sit above a shared broadcast LAN. R3 and R4 connect below the same LAN. There is no switch device in the source diagram. Device positions and links follow the source topology. IP addresses, interface names and loopback addresses are omitted for readability. R1 R2 R3 R4 Shared broadcast LAN

Scenario overview · IP and interface labels omitted

TASK 2 / DMVPN

OSPF Broadcast Networks — Task 2 — simplified topology overview An Area 0 DMVPN topology places R1 as the hub above the cloud, with R4 at the lower left, R3 below the center and R2 at the lower right. Each spoke connects to the hub; no direct spoke-to-spoke links are shown. Device positions and links follow the source topology. IP addresses, interface names and loopback addresses are omitted for readability. DMVPNArea 0R1 R4 R3 R2

WORKBOOK

03

OSPF Non-Broadcast Networks — simplified topology overview An Area 0 DMVPN topology places R1 as the hub above the cloud, with R4 at the lower left, R3 below the center and R2 at the lower right. Each spoke connects to the hub; no direct spoke-to-spoke links are shown. Device positions and links follow the source topology. IP addresses, interface names and loopback addresses are omitted for readability. DMVPNArea 0R1 R4 R3 R2

Non-Broadcast Networks

NEIGHBORS

Work through OSPF neighbor relationships in a non-broadcast network.

OSPF Non-Broadcast Networks — simplified topology overview An Area 0 DMVPN topology places R1 as the hub above the cloud, with R4 at the lower left, R3 below the center and R2 at the lower right. Each spoke connects to the hub; no direct spoke-to-spoke links are shown. Device positions and links follow the source topology. IP addresses, interface names and loopback addresses are omitted for readability. DMVPNArea 0R1 R4 R3 R2

Scenario overview · IP and interface labels omitted

WORKBOOK

04

OSPF Point-to-Point Networks — simplified topology overview R1 connects directly to R2. R2 and R3 connect to the same vertical network segment, with R3 below and to the right of R2. Device positions and links follow the source topology. IP addresses, interface names and loopback addresses are omitted for readability. R1 R2 R3

Point-to-Point Networks

NETWORK TYPES

Practice OSPF on point-to-point links and verify the resulting adjacencies.

OSPF Point-to-Point Networks — simplified topology overview R1 connects directly to R2. R2 and R3 connect to the same vertical network segment, with R3 below and to the right of R2. Device positions and links follow the source topology. IP addresses, interface names and loopback addresses are omitted for readability. R1 R2 R3

Scenario overview · IP and interface labels omitted

WORKBOOK

05

OSPF Point-to-Multipoint Networks — simplified topology overview R1 is the DMVPN hub at the top, with R2 and R3 as spokes at the lower left and lower right. R2 and R3 also share a direct lower link. Source bandwidth labels are retained: 100 Mbps at the hub, 10 Mbps toward R2 and 100 Mbps toward R3. Device positions and links follow the source topology. IP addresses, interface names and loopback addresses are omitted for readability. DMVPN100 Mbps10 Mbps100 MbpsR1 R2 R3 Direct R2–R3 link

Point-to-Multipoint Networks

NETWORK TYPES

Compare point-to-multipoint and point-to-multipoint non-broadcast behavior.

OSPF Point-to-Multipoint Networks — simplified topology overview R1 is the DMVPN hub at the top, with R2 and R3 as spokes at the lower left and lower right. R2 and R3 also share a direct lower link. Source bandwidth labels are retained: 100 Mbps at the hub, 10 Mbps toward R2 and 100 Mbps toward R3. Device positions and links follow the source topology. IP addresses, interface names and loopback addresses are omitted for readability. DMVPN100 Mbps10 Mbps100 MbpsR1 R2 R3 Direct R2–R3 link

Scenario overview · IP and interface labels omitted

WORKBOOK

06

OSPF Area Types — workbook 06 topology A simplified redraw of the supplied scenario with all eight routers and five switches. The left Area 0 backbone includes R1, R4, SW5, R3 and R2. Area 1 connects R4 and R5; Area 2 connects SW5 and R8; Area 3 connects SW3 and SW4, with SW3 reached from SW5. Area 4 connects R3, SW2 and R7; Area 5 connects R2, SW1 and R6. The shared backbone segment and the short shared segments before SW2 and SW1 retain their source layout. Gray branches represent the original loopback groups. IP addresses, loopback ranges and interface labels are omitted in this overview. Area 0Area 0Area 1Area 2Area 3Area 4Area 5 R1 R4 R5 R8 R3 R7 R2 R6 SW5 SW3 SW4 SW2 SW1

Area Types

AREA DESIGN

Explore how different OSPF area types affect route visibility.

OSPF Area Types — workbook 06 topology A simplified redraw of the supplied scenario with all eight routers and five switches. The left Area 0 backbone includes R1, R4, SW5, R3 and R2. Area 1 connects R4 and R5; Area 2 connects SW5 and R8; Area 3 connects SW3 and SW4, with SW3 reached from SW5. Area 4 connects R3, SW2 and R7; Area 5 connects R2, SW1 and R6. The shared backbone segment and the short shared segments before SW2 and SW1 retain their source layout. Gray branches represent the original loopback groups. IP addresses, loopback ranges and interface labels are omitted in this overview. Area 0Area 0Area 1Area 2Area 3Area 4Area 5 R1 R4 R5 R8 R3 R7 R2 R6 SW5 SW3 SW4 SW2 SW1

Scenario overview · IP and interface labels omitted

WORKBOOK

07

OSPF Filtering — simplified topology overview Eight routers retain the source layout. R5 connects to R1, R1 to R3, and R7 and R8 connect vertically through R3. R2, R4 and R6 share a segment connected to R8. Area labels are retained. IP and interface annotations are omitted. Area 1Area 1Area 0Area 0Area 0Area 2 R5 R1 R3 R7 R8 R2 R4 R6

Filtering

ROUTE CONTROL

Apply OSPF filtering and check which routes remain visible.

OSPF Filtering — simplified topology overview Eight routers retain the source layout. R5 connects to R1, R1 to R3, and R7 and R8 connect vertically through R3. R2, R4 and R6 share a segment connected to R8. Area labels are retained. IP and interface annotations are omitted. Area 1Area 1Area 0Area 0Area 0Area 2 R5 R1 R3 R7 R8 R2 R4 R6

Scenario overview · IP and interface labels omitted

WORKBOOK

08

OSPF Summarization — workbook 08 topology A simplified redraw of the workbook topology. R1 sits upper left in Area 1, R4 lower left in Area 2, R2 upper right and R3 lower right at Area 0. Three connections join R1 to R2, R2 to R3, and R3 to R4. Gray branches represent the original loopbacks. IP addresses and interface labels are omitted in this overview. Area 1Area 2Area 0 R1R2R3R4

Summarization

ROUTE CONTROL

Summarize OSPF routes and verify reachability across areas.

OSPF Summarization — workbook 08 topology A simplified redraw of the workbook topology. R1 sits upper left in Area 1, R4 lower left in Area 2, R2 upper right and R3 lower right at Area 0. Three connections join R1 to R2, R2 to R3, and R3 to R4. Gray branches represent the original loopbacks. IP addresses and interface labels are omitted in this overview. Area 1Area 2Area 0 R1R2R3R4

Scenario overview · IP and interface labels omitted

WORKBOOK

09

OSPF Virtual Links and GRE Tunnels — simplified topology overview Five routers and five source areas are preserved. R1 connects to R2, R2 to R3, R3 to R4, and R4 to R5 over the left-hand segment. Area 3 contains the loopback branch left of R1. Area 4 contains the branch left of R4 and the lower R5 segment. No additional virtual-link or tunnel connection has been invented. IP addresses and interface annotations are omitted. Area 3Area 1Area 0Area 2Area 4 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5

Virtual Links & GRE Tunnels

AREA DESIGN

Work with virtual links and GRE tunnels in a multi-area topology.

OSPF Virtual Links and GRE Tunnels — simplified topology overview Five routers and five source areas are preserved. R1 connects to R2, R2 to R3, R3 to R4, and R4 to R5 over the left-hand segment. Area 3 contains the loopback branch left of R1. Area 4 contains the branch left of R4 and the lower R5 segment. No additional virtual-link or tunnel connection has been invented. IP addresses and interface annotations are omitted. Area 3Area 1Area 0Area 2Area 4 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5

Scenario overview · IP and interface labels omitted

WORKBOOK

10

Default Route Injection — topology overviewR1, R2 and R3 form a horizontal chain. EIGRP AS100 connects R1 and R2; OSPF Area0 connects R2 and R3. Device placement and connections follow the source scenario. IP, loopback and interface labels are omitted for clarity.EIGRP 100OSPF AREA 0R1R2R3

Default Route Injection

ROUTE CONTROL

Inject a default route and observe how it propagates through OSPF.

Default Route Injection — topology overviewR1, R2 and R3 form a horizontal chain. EIGRP AS100 connects R1 and R2; OSPF Area0 connects R2 and R3. Device placement and connections follow the source scenario. IP, loopback and interface labels are omitted for clarity.EIGRP 100OSPF AREA 0R1R2R3

Scenario overview · IP and interface labels omitted

WORKBOOK

11

OSPF Authentication — topology overviewFive routers in Area0. R2 sits above R1 and R3. R3 connects down to R4, which connects left to R5. The lower source branch remains open at R1. Device placement and connections follow the source scenario. IP, loopback and interface labels are omitted for clarity.AREA 0R1R2R3R4R5

Authentication

SECURITY

Configure OSPF authentication and investigate mismatches that prevent adjacency.

OSPF Authentication — topology overviewFive routers in Area0. R2 sits above R1 and R3. R3 connects down to R4, which connects left to R5. The lower source branch remains open at R1. Device placement and connections follow the source scenario. IP, loopback and interface labels are omitted for clarity.AREA 0R1R2R3R4R5

Scenario overview · IP and interface labels omitted

WORKBOOK

12

OSPF Best-Path Determination — workbook 12 topology R1 is the central hub. Its seven original links lead to R2 at upper left, R3 above, R4 at upper right, R5 at right, R6 at lower right, R7 below and R8 at lower left. R1–R2, R1–R3 and R1–R4 each have Cost=1 and Area 0. PID 2 is near R1 on the R2 link and PID 3 is near R1 on the R3 link. R1–R5 and R1–R6 are Area 0. R1–R8 is NSSA Area 8 and R1–R7 is NSSA Area 7. R2, R3 and R4 retain their top Area 0 loopbacks. R5, R6, R7 and R8 redistribute using metric type 2. Gray stems represent the source loopbacks; no new router links or cost values are introduced. IP addresses and interface labels are omitted for clarity. Area 0 Area 0 Area 0 Cost=1 Area 0 Cost=1 Area 0 Cost=1 Area 0 PID 2 PID 3 Area 0 Area 0 Area 8NSSA Area 7NSSA Redistributemetric type 2 Redistributemetric type 2 Redistributemetric type 2 Redistributemetric type 2 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8

Best-Path Determination

PATH SELECTION

Follow how OSPF chooses a route when multiple paths are available.

OSPF Best-Path Determination — workbook 12 topology R1 is the central hub. Its seven original links lead to R2 at upper left, R3 above, R4 at upper right, R5 at right, R6 at lower right, R7 below and R8 at lower left. R1–R2, R1–R3 and R1–R4 each have Cost=1 and Area 0. PID 2 is near R1 on the R2 link and PID 3 is near R1 on the R3 link. R1–R5 and R1–R6 are Area 0. R1–R8 is NSSA Area 8 and R1–R7 is NSSA Area 7. R2, R3 and R4 retain their top Area 0 loopbacks. R5, R6, R7 and R8 redistribute using metric type 2. Gray stems represent the source loopbacks; no new router links or cost values are introduced. IP addresses and interface labels are omitted for clarity. Area 0 Area 0 Area 0 Cost=1 Area 0 Cost=1 Area 0 Cost=1 Area 0 PID 2 PID 3 Area 0 Area 0 Area 8NSSA Area 7NSSA Redistributemetric type 2 Redistributemetric type 2 Redistributemetric type 2 Redistributemetric type 2 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8

Scenario overview · IP and interface labels omitted

WORKBOOK 13 / THE FINAL CHALLENGE

Put it all
to the test.

Bring the preceding workbooks together in a final troubleshooting lab. Trace the symptoms, investigate the topology and verify your fixes.

OSPF Challenge Lab

OSPF Challenge Lab — topology overviewR3 connects to R7 and R8 below and to R5 on the right. Three separate links, each labeled Tunnel 1, connect R5, R2 and R4 to the central DMVPN cloud. R2 connects to R1; R4 connects to R6. Solid orange lines show the other links. IP addresses, interfaces and loopbacks are omitted in this overview.Tunnel 1Tunnel 1Tunnel 1DMVPNR3R5R2R1R4R6R7R8

Challenge topology · simplified overview

YOUR PRACTICE SYSTEM

The environment is ready.
Your job is to practice.

Ready-to-run OSPF labs, 13 guided workbooks, and Initial Config and Save Config files to support your practice.

Open the OSPF lab — conceptual illustration A lab file connects to an OSPF lab window containing a small network topology. This illustration represents the lab workflow, not an actual software screenshot. LAB OSPF

01 / THE ENVIRONMENT

Open the lab.

Start with the ready-to-run OSPF labs and enterprise topologies. Open a workbook and explore its network.

Follow the workbook — conceptual illustration Three overlapping workbook sheets contain task lines and a small network diagram. An orange bookmark marks the front sheet. The pages illustrate guided practice rather than a specific workbook page.

02 / THE WORKBOOK

Follow the task.
Check the result.

Work through 13 guided workbooks. Configure OSPF, verify its behavior and troubleshoot the network along the way.

Build, check and repeat — conceptual illustration A white router tile with an empty status badge connects to a dark router tile with a checked orange badge. A return arrow represents repeating the practice workflow rather than a measured completion state.

03 / THE PRACTICE

Build. Compare.
Do it again.

Practice with the included Initial Config and Save Config files. Configure, verify and troubleshoot, then repeat the scenario.

BUILT BY A NETWORK ENGINEER

Practice built around real engineering work.

Created by Ali Mansouri, drawing on 25+ years of work across enterprise networks, service providers and data centers.

OSPF Mastery turns that experience into focused lab practice: configure the protocol, observe its behavior and work through the failures.

Learn to investigate the network in front of you, one scenario at a time.

YOUR OSPF PRACTICE PACK

All 13 workbooks.
Yours to keep practicing.

OSPF Mastery

A focused collection for building practical OSPF skills, one lab at a time.

  • All 13 guided OSPF workbooks
  • Enterprise topologies and ready-to-run labs
  • Initial Config and Save Config files
  • Lifetime access and future product updates

ONE-TIME PAYMENT · USD

$97$27

Lifetime access. Future updates included.

Get OSPF Mastery →

A question before you buy?

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

A few details.
Clear answers.

The format, files and access — so you know what to expect.

No. OSPF Mastery is a collection of guided workbooks and hands-on labs. You learn by configuring, verifying and troubleshooting the network.

All 13 OSPF workbooks, enterprise topologies, ready-to-run labs, Initial Config files and Save Config files. Lifetime access and future product updates are included.

Initial Config gives you a starting point for the lab. Save Config provides a completed configuration to use as a reference as you practice.

Yes. With lifetime access, you can return to the workbooks and lab files and repeat the scenarios at your own pace.

Begin with workbook 01, Running OSPF on the Interfaces, and follow the numbered collection through to the final OSPF Challenge Lab.

Yes. Contact the team with your lab platform and setup details so you can confirm compatibility before purchasing.

A question before you start?

Ask us about the package, lab setup, or the labs. We’ll help you find the information you need.

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