Why is the route mask of the loopback interface in the OSPF routing table always 32 bits?

Popeye_Wang · Created Sep 17, 2019 11:18:15

Hi Sprout,

The loopback interface is always defined as Stub Network Link. By default, the network type of the loopback is P2P, and the 32-bit mask is used. This is why the route learned by the IP address of the loopback interface is the host route of /32 regardless of how long the mask length is configured.

The implementation is based on RFC2328.

Why is the route mask of the loopback interface in the OSPF routing table always 32 bits?-3061979-1

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Popeye_Wang · Created Sep 17, 2019 11:18:15

Hi Sprout,

The loopback interface is always defined as Stub Network Link. By default, the network type of the loopback is P2P, and the 32-bit mask is used. This is why the route learned by the IP address of the loopback interface is the host route of /32 regardless of how long the mask length is configured.

The implementation is based on RFC2328.

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offshore.kiwi · Created Sep 19, 2019 07:44:47

Hi @Sprout

By default OSPF treats the loopback interface as a point-to-point network:

<R2>display ospf interface LoopBack 0 verbose

OSPF Process 1 with Router ID 10.0.2.2

Interfaces

Interface: 10.0.2.2 (LoopBack0)

Cost: 0 State: P-2-P Type: P2P MTU: 1500

Timers: Hello 10 , Dead 40 , Poll 120 , Retransmit 5 , Transmit Delay 1

IO Statistics

…

OSPF knows that the network segment where Loopback0 resides can have only one IP address, therefore it advertises the subnet mask of the advertised route as 32 bits.

But you can change this if you want (which is especially useful if you're using loopback interfaces in eNSP to simulate other networks) - just configure the network type of the Loopback interface to be broadcast. Then when OSPF advertises network information for this interface, it will use a 24-bit mask & the network type will be broadcast:

[R2]interface LoopBack 0

[R2-LoopBack0]ospf network-type broadcast

<R1>display ip routing-table

Route Flags: R - relay, D - download to fib

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Routing Tables: Public

Destinations : 12 Routes : 12

Destination/Mask Proto Pre Cost Flags NextHop Interface

10.0.1.0/24 Direct 0 0 D 10.0.1.1 LoopBack0

10.0.1.1/32 Direct 0 0 D 127.0.0.1 LoopBack0

10.0.1.255/32 Direct 0 0 D 127.0.0.1 LoopBack0

10.0.2.0/24 OSPF 10 10 D 10.0.123.2 GigabitEthernet0/0/0

…

<R2>display ospf interface LoopBack 0 verbose

OSPF Process 1 with Router ID 10.0.2.2

Interfaces

Interface: 10.0.2.2 (LoopBack0)

Cost: 0 State: DR Type: Broadcast MTU: 1500

Priority: 1

Designated Router: 10.0.2.2

Backup Designated Router: 0.0.0.0

Timers: Hello 10 , Dead 40 , Poll 120 , Retransmit 5 , Transmit Delay 1

IO Statistics

Type Input Output

Sprout · Created Sep 19, 2019 13:19:36

Thanks.

Why is the route mask of the loopback interface in the OSPF routing table always 32 bits?

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Why is the route mask of the loopback interface in the OSPF routing table always 32 bits?

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