An enhanced OSPF routing protocol in wireless mesh networks with Rayleigh/Ricean fading

OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is a link state based interior gateway routing protocol. This study explores the performance of OSPF routing protocol in a fixed wireless network with Rayleigh/Ricean fading. Our topology consists o f wireless mesh routers, which are connected to each other via 802.11a links.During our throughput performance study two types of throughput losses are identified. The first type of throughput loss is a direct consequence of fading, and happens when user traffic is sent during fading depths and lost The second type of throughput loss is an indirect consequence of fading, and happens when OSPF control traffic is sent during fading depths and lost This results in router interface shut down and consequent user traffic interruption and route changes.FA-OSPF (Fading Adapted OSPF) routing algorithm was developed in our study in order to prevent the second type of throughput loss and consequent user traffic interruption and route changes.