[[File:Olsr-overview.pdf|thumb|460px|Diagram of OLSR data flow.]]
The '''Optimized Link State Routing Protocol''' ('''OLSR''')<ref name=":06">{{cite IETF |title=Optimized Link State Routing Protocol (OLSR) |rfc=3626 |author1=Thomas Heide Clausen |author2=Philippe Jacquet |date=October 2003 |publisher=[[Internet Engineering Task Force|IETF]] |access-date=22 October 2024}}</ref> is an [[Internet Protocol|IP]] routing protocol optimized for [[mobile ad hoc network]]s, which can also be used on other [[wireless ad hoc network]]s. OLSR is a proactive [[link-state routing protocol]], which uses ''hello'' and ''topology control'' (TC) messages to discover and then disseminate link state information throughout the mobile ad hoc network. Individual nodes use this topology information to compute next hop destinations for all nodes in the network using shortest hop forwarding paths.
== Features specific to OLSR ==
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== Other approaches ==
The problem of routing in ad hoc wireless networks is actively being researched, and OLSR is but one of several proposed solutions. To many, it is not clear whether a whole new protocol is needed, or whether [[OSPF]] could be extended with support for wireless interfaces.<ref>{{cite IETF |title=Extensions to OSPF to Support Mobile Ad Hoc Networking, |rfc=5820 |author1=Madhavi Chandra, |author2=Abhay Roy,Mar|date=March 2010 |publisher=[[Internet Engineering Task Force|IETF]] |access-10,date=22 RFCOctober 58202024}}</ref><ref>{{cite IETF |title=Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) Extension of OSPF usingUsing Connected Dominating Set (CDS) Flooding, |rfc=5614|author1=Richard Ogier, |author2=Phil Spagnolo,Aug|date=August 2009 |publisher=[[Internet Engineering Task Force|IETF]] |access-09,date=22 RFCOctober 56142024}}</ref>
In bandwidth- and power-starved environments, it is interesting to keep the network silent when there is no traffic to be routed. Reactive routing protocols do not maintain routes, but build them on demand. As link-state protocols require database synchronisation, such protocols typically use the distance vector approach, as in [[AODV]] and [[DSDV]], or more ad hoc approaches that do not necessarily build optimal paths, such as [[Dynamic Source Routing]].
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== OLSR version 2 ==
OLSRv2 has beenwas published by the IETF in April 2014 as a standards-track protocol.<ref name=":0">RFC{{cite IETF |title=The Optimized Link State Routing Protocol Version 2 |rfc=7181 |author1=Thomas Heide Clausen |author2=Christopher Dearlove |author3=Philippe Jacquet |author4=Ulrich Herberg |date=April 2014 |publisher=[[Internet Engineering Task Force|IETF]] |access-date=22 October 2024}}</ref> It maintains many of the key features of the original including MPR selection and dissemination. Key differences are the flexibility and modular design using shared components: packet format packetbb, and neighborhood discovery protocol NHDP. These components are being designed to be common among next generation IETF MANET protocols. Differences in the handling of multiple address and interface enabled nodes is also present between OLSR and OLSRv2.
