NSE7 Area Border Router (ABR) Practice Question
A FortiGate is configured with OSPF multi-area. The administrator needs to ensure that routes from area 2 are advertised into area 0. Which TWO configurations are necessary?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume that OSPF requires explicit route redistribution for inter-area routing, but in a standard OSPF deployment, an ABR automatically advertises Type 3 LSAs. Also, virtual-links are only used when there is no direct physical connection to the backbone area, not as a substitute for an ABR.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure a virtual-link between area 2 and area 0
To advertise routes from area 2 into area 0, an Area Border Router (ABR) must connect the two areas. The ABR automatically generates Type 3 summary LSAs to propagate routes without explicit redistribution. However, in a multi-area OSPF design, if area 2 is not directly physically connected to backbone area 0, a virtual-link is required to provide logical connectivity. Since the question asks for two necessary configurations and the topology implies a non-direct connection (common in multi-area setups), both an ABR and a virtual-link are needed.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Configure a virtual-link between area 2 and area 0
Why this is correct
A virtual-link is required to logically connect area 2 to area 0 when there is no direct physical connection, ensuring OSPF backbone continuity.
- ✗
Set the OSPF network type to point-to-point
Why it's wrong here
Setting the OSPF network type to point-to-point only affects neighbor adjacency and LSA types; it does not enable inter-area route advertisement.
- ✓
Configure an Area Border Router (ABR) between area 2 and area 0
Why this is correct
An ABR is necessary to connect area 2 and area 0, generating Type 3 summary LSAs that automatically advertise routes between areas.
- ✗
Disable OSPF on area 0
Why it's wrong here
Disabling OSPF on area 0 would break the backbone and prevent any inter-area routing.
- ✗
Enable route redistribution from OSPF into OSPF
Why it's wrong here
Route redistribution between OSPF processes is unnecessary because ABRs handle inter-area route advertisement via Type 3 LSAs.
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