# Configuring an OSPF area

Use the following procedure to configure an OSPF area.

## Prerequisites

- Install the Advanced License.

- Enable IP routing globally on the switch.

- Assign an IP address to the VLAN that you want to enable with OSPF.

  Routing is automatically enabled on the VLAN when you assign an IP address to it.

## Procedure steps

1. From the navigation tree, double-click IP Routing.

2. In the IP Routing tree, double-click OSPF.

3. In the work area, click the Areas tab.

4. In the toolbar, click Insert.

5. Using the fields provided, configure the OSPF area.

6. Click Insert.

## Variable definitions

The following table describes the fields of the Areas tab.

Field | Description
--- | ---
AreaId | Specifies the unique identifier for the area. Area ID 0.0.0.0 is the OSPF backbone.
ImportAsExtern | Specifies the area type by defining its support for importing Autonomous System external link state advertisements. The options available are: importExternal: specifies a normal area importNoExternal: specifies a stub area importNssa: specifies an NSSA
SpfRuns | Specifies the number of times that the OSPF intra-area route table has been calculated using this area link state database.
AreaBdrRtrCount | Specifies the total number of Area Border Routers reachable within this area. This value is initially zero and is calculated in each SPF pass.
AsBdrRtrCount | Specifies the total number of Autonomous System Border Routers reachable within this area. This value is initially zero, and is calculated in each SPF pass.
AreaLsaCount | Specifies the total number of link state advertisements in the link state database for this area, excluding Autonomous System external link state advertisements.
AreaLsaCksumSum | Specifies the sum of the checksums of the link state advertisements contained in the link state database for this area. This sum excludes external (link state type 5) link state advertisements. The sum can determine if there has been a change in the link state database of a router, and to compare the link state database of two routers.
AreaSummary | Controls the import of summary link state advertisements on an ABR into a stub area. The value has no effect on other areas. If the value is noAreaSummary, the ABR neither originates nor propagates summary link state advertisements into the stub area (creating a totally stubby area). If the value is sendAreaSummary, the ABR both summarizes and propagates summary link state advertisements.