How to Setup OSPF between Multiple SonicWalls within the Same Area

05/28/2020 50 17817

DESCRIPTION:

This article describes the process of setting up two or more SonicWalls to distribute OSPF information within the same Area.

RESOLUTION:

1. Login to the SonicWall Management GUI and Navigate to Network | Routing.

2. Under Routing Mode, set the drop down menu to Advanced Routing. Open the Configure OSPF menu for the Interface with the relevant Routes or Networks to be distributed.

3. On the pop-up window, set OSPFv2 to Enabled and input the following information: Dead Interval, Hello Interval, and OSPF Area. All this information must match across all the SonicWalls or the Routes and Networks will not be distributed.

4. Each SonicWall must also have a unique Router ID, which is typically the Interface IP Address. However you can set it to any local, unused IP Address.

5. Set the ABR Type to Cisco.

6. Finally, select which, if any, of the relevant options will be redistributed: Static Routes, Connected Networks, RIP Routes, and Remote VPN Networks.

Once the configuration on all the Area devices is complete you can set the Metric for Routes learned via the Advanced Routing protocols. To do so navigate to Network | Routing and edit the Apply the following metric to default routes received from Advanced Routing protocols field. The default value is 110.

After everything is configured you will see OSPF Neighbor Status on Network | Routing. A Green bubble indicates that the neighbors are able to communicate, a Red bubble indicates a failure. You can check the SonicWall's Logs under Logs | Log Monitor for more information about failed peering.

Resolution for SonicOS 6.5

This release includes significant user interface changes and many new features that are different from the SonicOS 6.2 and earlier firmware. The below resolution is for customers using SonicOS 6.5 firmware.

1. Login to the SonicWall Management GUI and Navigate to Manage | Network | Routing | Settings.

2. Under Routing Mode, set the drop down menu to Advanced Routing. Navigate to Manage | Network | Routing | OSPFv2. Open the Configure OSPF menu for the Interface with the relevant Routes or Networks to be distributed.

3. On the pop-up window, set OSPFv2 to Enabled and input the following information: Dead Interval, Hello Interval, and OSPF Area. All this information must match across all the SonicWalls or the Routes and Networks will not be distributed.

4. Each SonicWall must also have a unique Router ID, which is typically the Interface IP Address. However you can set it to any local, unused IP Address.

Navigate to Manage | Network | Routing | OSPFv2 and then click on the settings icon to enter all that information.

5. Set the ABR Type to Cisco.

6. Finally, select which, if any, of the relevant options will be redistributed: Static Routes, Connected Networks, RIP Routes, and Remote VPN Networks.

Once the configuration on all the Area devices is complete you can set the Metric for Routes learned via the Advanced Routing protocols. To do so navigate to Manage | Network | Routing | OSPFv2  and click on the settings icon and edit the Apply the following metric to default routes received from Advanced Routing protocols field. The default value is 110.

After everything is configured you will see OSPF Neighbor Status on Manage | Network | Routing | OSPFv2. A Green bubble indicates that the neighbors are able to communicate, a Red bubble indicates a failure. You can check the SonicWall's Logs under Investigate | Event Logs for more information about failed peering.