Which state in the adjacency process do OSPF routers check the MTU size?

In OSPF, routers exchange link-state information in different stages to establish full adjacency. TheMTU sizeis checked during theExchangestate.

Step-by-Step Breakdown:

OSPF Adjacency Process:

OSPF routers go through multiple stages when forming an adjacency:Down,Init,2-Way,ExStart,Exchange,Loading, andFull.

Exchange State:

During theExchangestate, OSPF routers exchangeDatabase Description (DBD)packets to describe their link-state databases. TheMTU sizeis checked at this stage to ensure both routers can successfully exchange these packets without fragmentation.

If there is anMTU mismatch, the routers may fail to proceed past the Exchange state.

Juniper Reference:

MTU Checking in OSPF: Junos uses the Exchange state to check for MTU mismatches, ensuring that routers can properly exchange database information without packet fragmentation issues.