Interfaces

On the Interfaces & Routing > Dynamic Routing (OSPF) > Interfaces tab you can create interface definitions to be used within an OSPF area. Each definition contains various parameters that are specific for OSPF-enabled interfaces.

To create an OSPF interface definition, proceed as follows:

  1. On the Interfaces tab, click New OSPF Interface.

    The Add OSPF Interface dialog box opens.

  2. Make the following settings:

    Name: Enter a descriptive name for this interface.

    Interface: Select the interface to associate with this OSPF interface definition.

    Auth-type: Select the authentication type used for all OSPF packets sent and received through this interface. The following authentication types are available:

    • MD5: Select to enable MD5 authentication. MD5 (Message-Digest algorithm 5) is a widely-used cryptographic hash function with a 128-bit hash value.
    • Plain-Text: Select to enable plain-text authentication. The password is transmitted in clear text over the network.
    • Off: Select to disable authentication.

    Message Digest: Select the message digest (MD) to specify that MD5 authentication is used for this OSPF interface. Note that to select a message digest here it must have been created on the Message Digests tab first.

    Cost: The cost of sending a data packet on this interface. Valid values for cost are in the range from 1 to 65535.

    Advanced (optional): Select this checkbox to reveal further configuration options:

    • Hello interval: Specify the period of time (in seconds) that Sophos UTM waits between sending Hello packets through this interface. The default value is ten seconds.
    • Retransmit interval: Specify the period of time (in seconds) between link state advertisement (LSA) retransmissions for the interface when an acknowledgment for the LSA is not received. The default value is five seconds.
    • Dead interval: Specify the period of time (in seconds) Sophos UTM waits to receive a Hello data packet through the interface. The default value is 40 seconds. By convention, the Dead Interval value is four times greater than the value for the Hello Interval.
    • Priority: Specify the router priority, which is an 8-bit number ranging from 0 to 255 primarily used in determining the designated router (DR) for the particular network. The router with the highest priority will be more eligible to become designated router. Setting the value to 0, makes the router ineligible to become designated router. The default value is 1.
    • Transmit delay: Specify the estimated period of time (in seconds) it takes to transmit a link state update packet on the interface. The range is from 1 to 65535 seconds; the default value is 1.

    Comment (optional): Add a description or other information.

  3. Click Save.

    The OSPF interface definition appears on the Interfaces tab.

To either edit or delete an OSPF interface, click the corresponding buttons.

Open Live Log: The OSPF live log logs all activities on the OSPF interface. Click the button to open the live log in a new window.