Message Digests

On the Interfaces & Routing > Dynamic Routing (OSPF) > Message Digests tab so-called message digest keys can be generated. Message digest keys are needed to enable MD5 authentication with OSPF. MD5 authentication uses the password to generate a message digest, which is a 128-bit checksum of the data packet and password. The message digest is sent with the data packet along with a key ID associated with the password.

Note – The receiving routers must be configured with an identical message digest key.

To create a message digest key, proceed as follows:

1. On the Message Digest tab, click New Message Digest Key.

   The Add Message Digest Key dialog box opens.

2. Specify the following settings:

   ID: Enter the key identifier for this message digest key; the range is from 1 to 255.

   MD5-key: Enter the associated password, which must be a string of up to 16 alphanumeric characters.

3. Click Save.

   The new key appears on the Message Digests list.

To either edit or delete a digest key, click the corresponding buttons.