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OSPF stands for Open Shortest Path First and IS IS stands for Intermediate System to Intermediate System.
OSPF and ISIS both are routing protocols for Internet Protocol Networks.
Similarities between OSPF and ISIS
Before going into the details of differences between OSPF and ISIS, let’s explore some similarities:
- OSPF and ISIS both are Link State Routing Protocols using the Dijkstra SPF Algorithm.
- Both are Interior Gateway Protocols (IGP) that distribute routing information between routers belonging to a single Autonomous System (AS).
- Both use Hello packets to create and maintain adjacencies between the neighboring routers.
- Both the protocols are classless protocols and support classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) and Variable Subnet Length Masking (VLSM)
- Both support Authentication Mechanism
- Both support multipath.
- Both support IP unnumbered links.
Related – OSPF LSA types
Differences between OSPF and ISIS
- OSPF operates on the top of IP layer whereas ISIS operates over Layer 2.
- OSPF can support virtual links but ISIS can not support (as it operates on Layer 2 directly).
- OSPF elects a DR and BDR on broadcast networks which can not be pre-empted however, ISIS elects a single DIS which can be pre-empted.
- IP connectivity between the routers to share the routing information is required in case of OSPF, while ISIS doesn’t require IP connectivity as the updates are sent via CLNS instead of IP.
- OSPF is prone to attacks hence security overheads are required for protection. The possibility of attacks is very less in case of ISIS as it runs over Layer 2.
- OSPF designates a backbone area and standard or non-backbone area for inter-area advertisements whereas ISIS organizes the domain into different levels.
- To identify a router on the network, OSPF uses Router ID and ISIS uses System ID.
- OSPF is less flexible with more strict requirements for forming neighbor adjacencies. The hello and dead intervals, and the subnet mask must match (except on point-to-point links).
Comparison Table: OSPF vs ISIS
Below table enumerates the differences between OSPF and ISIS protocols –
Parameter |
OSPF |
ISIS |
| Administrative Distance | 110 | 115 |
| Standard | RFC 2328 (OSPFv2) | ISO 10589, RFC1195 |
| Operating OSI Layer | OSPF operates on top of IP Layer | ISIS operates over L2 |
| Virtual Links Supported | Yes | No |
| DR/BDR election | OSPF elects a DR and BDR on broadcast networks | ISIS elects a single DIS on broadcast networks |
| IP connectivity | OSPF requires IP connectivity between the routers to share the routing information | ISIS doesn’t require IP connectivity between the routers as updates are sent via CLNS instead of IP. |
| Security | Prone to attack and hence requires more security overheads for protection. | Since ISIS runs on Layer 2 , hence very unlikely possibility of attack |
| Area/Level Types | ·Backbone Area
·Standard Area (Non Backbone Area) |
Different Levels used in place of area
·Level 1 ·Level 2 ·Level 1/2 Areas |
| Identification | OSPF uses router id to identify a router on network | ISIS uses System ID to identify a router on the network. |
| Table Refresh | OSPF refreshes the entire routing table after 30 minutes. | ISIS doesn’t refresh the entire SPF table periodically like OSPF. |
| Related terms | Area, non-Backbone Area, Backbone Area, ABR, ASBR, Host | IS,Level-1,Level-2,L1/L2,Sub Domain, ES |
| Flexibility | Less flexible than ISIS | More flexible to use than OSPF especially in provider domain |
| Scalability | Less scalable than ISIS | More scalable than OSPF |
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Download the comparison table: OSPF vs ISIS
Continue Reading:
OSPF Router Types: Detailed Explanation
OSPF Neighbor States Explained (OSPF States)
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