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What is a Virtual Link?
DerekAustin26
Member Posts: 275
in CCNA & CCENT
I've checked google got 1 source that is very vague, and i've checked Todd Lammle's CCNA book & Boson's CCNA book. I cannot get a good explanation of what it is in lamens terms. Can someone help me out please?
Comments
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OptionsColbyG Member Posts: 1,264Virtual Links are related to OSPF. In OSPF every area has to touch Area 0 (the backbone). A Virtual Link allows one area to traverse another area to touch area 0. So:
(Area 0)---(Area 1)---(Area 2)
You would have a Virtual Link between Area 0 and Area 2 so Area 2 is touching Area 0. It's basically just a tunnel to Area 0 through another area.
I hope that makes sense.
Edit: Check out this link:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk365/technologies_tech_note09186a0080094aaa.shtml#virtuallinks -
OptionsColbyG Member Posts: 1,264Also, I don't think you need to worry about Virtual Links at the CCNA level.
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OptionsDerekAustin26 Member Posts: 275It's not for my CCNA, I got a new job at a NOC and one of their MAPS we use for monitoring WAN links has a Virtual Link going from Tulsa, OK to Lake Charles, LA. And I've never heard of a virtual link in my life until today.
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OptionsSlowhand Mod Posts: 5,161 ModDerekAustin26 wrote: »It's not for my CCNA, I got a new job at a NOC and one of their MAPS we use for monitoring WAN links has a Virtual Link going from Tulsa, OK to Lake Charles, LA. And I've never heard of a virtual link in my life until today.
At this rate, you'll make not only a good CCNA candidate, but a good CCNP and even CCIE someday. The mindset, "I haven't seen this before, I should learn about it," is lacking all too much wherever I go.
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Optionsjonfc3s Member Posts: 18 ■□□□□□□□□□Virtual circuits,... also known as vitual links can also relate to Frame Relay.
Jon -
Optionsbillscott92787 Member Posts: 933I totally agree. It is good you seen something and then asked about it! You don't see these until you get to the CCNP, BSCI portion of the exam, specifically OSPF. I like you attitude, it will take you far! That is how I am as well, if I see something I don't know, I ask and learn it.
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OptionsAPA Member Posts: 959Virtual Links are related to OSPF. In OSPF every area has to touch Area 0 (the backbone). A Virtual Link allows one area to traverse another area to touch area 0. So:
Spot on.... mainly used when dis-contiguous areas are in the topology with no direct adjacency to Area 0
However.....
Just like to add that it's not a recommended configuration and if a final solution means using virtual-links then the design isn't a final solution....
adds complexity to a topology......
DerekAustin - to find out whether the Map you are talking about is indeed a OSPF virtual link... If you have access to one of the routers login and execute the following 'show command.
show ip ospf virtual-links
BTW - I concur with Slowhand.... great use of initiative... I too am suffering from the wrath of NOC admins not worrying about the ins and outs of work assigned to them\or what the graphs are telling them....
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