Which command can be used to view the link-state database in OSPF?

The command to view the link-state database in OSPF is "show ip ospf database." This command displays the contents of the OSPF link-state database, which contains information about all OSPF routers in the network and their associated link states. The link-state database is essential for OSPF’s operation, as it supports the calculation of the shortest path first (SPF) tree to determine the best routes throughout the network.

Viewing the link-state database is crucial for network administrators to troubleshoot OSPF routing issues, understand the OSPF topology, and verify that OSPF routers are exchanging link-state advertisements correctly. By analyzing the link-state database, you can see the OSPF routing information, including router IDs, link states, and network summaries, which helps in maintaining the integrity and efficiency of OSPF routing.

Other commands serve different purposes. For instance, the command for viewing neighbors provides details about adjacent OSPF routers, and the running-config displays the current configuration of the router, while the command for viewing the routing table presents the current routing information without details specific to OSPF. These commands, although useful for specific tasks, do not provide direct insights into the link-state database itself.