Table of Contents

OSPF Training

06:18:51 Hours
27 Lectures
Intermediate

$39

CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure Training

117:12:56 Hours
287 Lectures
Expert

$799

Routing Protocols Design and Deployment Course

47:00:55 Hours
51 Lectures
Intermediate

$200

What is ASBR?

What is ASBR? Autonomous System Boundary Router. This seems easy, it is just used in OSPF, isn't it?. In fact, that is wrong. You will learn in this post something, that is hopefully you will learn the first time. Let's have a look at it. ASBR is a node, that is connecting two or more networks. It can be a router or switch and it can be positioned at the Internet Edge. The router at the Internet Edge is referred to as IGW (Internet Gateway) Router and it can be an IGW Router.

It can be located between two different networks to provide MPLS service for example. Between two networks, service is referred to as Inter-AS MPLS VPNs and in RFC 2547, Section 10, 3 different Inter-AS MPLS VPN Options are explained. In all of them, the routers that are connecting two different Autonomous System is referred to as ASBR as well.

On those routers, usually, BGP runs in Inter-AS MPLS VPN service. OSPF is not mandatory. Thus, saying it is used in OSPF would be a false claim. It can be used for many different services in the networks and ASBR can run any routing protocol, not just OSPF.  


Figure - ASBR in OSPF 

  In the above figure, ASBR in the OSPF network is positioned. That router can inject external prefixes to the OSPF network. We call the prefixes external because those prefixes don't belong to this company network. Even if the prefixes come from different OSPF Process IDs, it is considered external prefixes. Sending prefixes into the network using the ASBR router is done via a process called Redistribution.

We explained Redistribution Best Practices earlier on the website.You may want to check ASBR vs. ABR differences, similarities, and the use cases in OSPF networks.   

Created by
Orhan Ergun

Orhan Ergun, CCIE/CCDE Trainer, Author of Many Networking Books, Network Design Advisor, and Cisco Champion 2019/2020/2021

He created OrhanErgun.Net 10 years ago and has been serving the IT industry with his renowned and awarded training.

Wrote many books, mostly on Network Design, joined many IETF RFCs, gave Public talks at many Forums, and mentored thousands of his students.  

Today, with his carefully selected instructors, OrhanErgun.Net is providing IT courses to tens of thousands of IT engineers. 

View profile