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How to Configure OSPF MD5
Authentication
In a previous lesson, I demonstrated how to configure plain text
authentication for OSPF. This time we’ll look at MD5 authentication. The
idea is the same, but some of the commands are different. Anyway,
here is the topology that we will use:
Just two routers in the same area, nothing special. Here is the
configuration to enable MD5 authentication:
Lessons
R1(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/0
R1(config-if)#ip ospf message-digest-key 1 md5 MYPASS
R1(config-if)#ip ospf authentication message-digest
R2(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/0
R2(config-if)#ip ospf message-digest-key 1 md5 MYPASS
R2(config-if)#ip ospf authentication message-digest
For MD5 authentication, you need different commands. First, use ip
ospf message-digest-key X md5 to specify the key number and
password. It doesn’t matter which key number you choose, but it has to
be the same on both ends. To enable OSPF authentication, you need to
type in ip ospf authentication message-digest.
It is also possible to enable authentication for the entire area. This way,
you don’t have to use the ip ospf authentication message-digest
command on all of your interfaces to activate it. Here’s the command
to enable MD5 authentication for the entire area:
R1(config)#router ospf 1
R1(config-router)#area 0 authentication message-digest
That’s all we have to do. Let’s verify our work…
1. Verification
R1#show ip ospf interface fastEthernet 0/0
FastEthernet0/0 is up, line protocol is up
Internet Address 192.168.12.1/24, Area 0
Process ID 1, Router ID 192.168.12.1, Network Type
BROADCAST, Cost: 1
Transmit Delay is 1 sec, State BDR, Priority 1
Designated Router (ID) 192.168.12.2, Interface address
192.168.12.2
Backup Designated router (ID) 192.168.12.1, Interface
address 192.168.12.1
Flush timer for old DR LSA due in 00:01:53
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Timer intervals configured, Hello 10, Dead 40, Wait 40,
Retransmit 5
oob-resync timeout 40
Hello due in 00:00:05
Supports Link-local Signaling (LLS)
Index 1/1, flood queue length 0
Next 0x0(0)/0x0(0)
Last flood scan length is 1, maximum is 1
Last flood scan time is 0 msec, maximum is 0 msec
Neighbor Count is 1, Adjacent neighbor count is 1
Adjacent with neighbor 192.168.12.2 (Designated
Router)
Suppress hello for 0 neighbor(s)
Message digest authentication enabled
Youngest key id is 1
Using show ip ospf interface we see MD5 authentication is
enabled, and we are using key ID 1. We have a neighbor, so it seems to
be working. Let’s try a debug:
R1#debug ip ospf packet
OSPF packet debugging is on
OSPF: rcv. v:2 t:1 l:48 rid:192.168.12.2
aid:0.0.0.0 chk:0 aut:2 keyid:1 seq:0x3C7EC653 from
FastEthernet0/0
Debug shows us that MD5 authentication is enabled (aut:2), and we use
key ID 1. Debug is also great for fixing authentication errors. Here’s
why:
R1(config)#interface fastEthernet 0/0
R1(config-if)#no ip ospf message-digest-key 1 md5 MYPASS
R1(config-if)#ip ospf message-digest-key 1 md5
MYWRONGPASS
First, we’ll enter the wrong password. Now I’ll enable a debug and reset
the OSPF process:
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R1#debug ip ospf adj
OSPF adjacency events debugging is on
R1#clear ip ospf process
Reset ALL OSPF processes? [no]: yes
Here’s what you will see:
R1#
OSPF: Rcv pkt from 192.168.12.2, FastEthernet0/0 :
Mismatch Authentication Key - Message Digest Key 1
Somewhere in the debug, you’ll see the message above. This means
that we are using MD5 key ID 1 on both sides, but the password is
incorrect.
Configurations
Want to take a look for yourself? Here you will find the final
configuration of each device.
R1
hostname R1
!
interface FastEthernet0/0
ip address 192.168.12.1 255.255.255.0
ip ospf message-digest-key 1 md5 MYPASS
ip ospf authentication message-digest
!
router ospf 1
network 192.168.12.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
area 0 authentication message-digest
!
end
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R2
hostname R2
!
interface FastEthernet0/0
ip address 192.168.12.2 255.255.255.0
ip ospf message-digest-key 1 md5 MYPASS
ip ospf authentication message-digest
!
router ospf 1
network 192.168.12.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
area 0 authentication message-digest
!
end
That’s all there is for now. I hope this was useful for you! If you have
any questions, please leave a comment.
« Previous Lesson
OSPF Plain-Text
Authentication
Next Lesson
OSPF HMAC SHA Extended
Authentication
»
Tags: Authentication
Forum Replies
system
thank you so much… this helped me
Lessons
jmwalker24
Rene… in order to configure MD5 for an entire area… do we have to (at a
minimum) configure a single subnet first - interface on Router A and
connecting interface on Router B – using the
ip ospf authentication message-digest
ip ospf message-digest key 1 dm5 PASSWORD
Does that have to be done first? If yes – then the - Area 1 authentication
message digest – command applies authentication to every other router and
its interface in the entire area? … with the same key and password?
ReneMolenaar
Hi Jason,
If you enable those two commands on the interface then MD5 authentication
will be used, but only if the interface is running OSPF. You need to make sure
you have a network command that covers the subnet of the interface.
Otherwise…the interface won’t run OSPF so we also won’t have any
authentication
Rene
nokturnes
Easy to understand, Thanks.
adkatamba
what if i have instances of different OSPF area, and I want the different areas
to communicate. is it still the exact same or I need to have a different key
number and the same password.
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