CCNA Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Study Resource

Type 7 LSAs, known as External LSAs, are specifically used in Not-So-Stubby Areas (NSSAs) within OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) routing. NSSAs are a special type of area that allows for the introduction of external routes while still retaining some of the stub area restrictions. This means that while NSSAs can import Type 7 LSAs, which contain external routing information, they also do not send Type 5 LSAs (which are for inter-area routes), helping to manage the complexity of the routing table.

In an NSSA, external routes can be carried, which are typically utilized when there is a need to connect to resources outside of the OSPF autonomous system. When the Type 7 LSA is generated, it is later converted into Type 5 LSAs when it is flooded to the other areas in the OSPF network.

Other area types like stub areas and totally stubby areas do not support Type 7 LSAs as they are designed to limit the types of LSAs that can be received, focusing primarily on internal OSPF routes. Multi-access networks refer to a network type rather than an OSPF area type and pertain to how devices connect