In which initial OSPF neighbor state does a router identify potential neighbors?

In OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), the initial state where a router identifies potential neighbors is the Init state. During this phase, a router sends hello packets to discover and establish communication with other routers on a segment. Specifically, in the Init state, the router is waiting for the corresponding hello packets from other routers to confirm their presence on the network.

When a router sends a hello packet, it includes its router ID and lists the neighbors it has identified and is initiating communication with. If the other routers respond appropriately, the OSPF routers transition from the Init state to subsequent stages in the neighbor discovery process, eventually leading to the formation of a neighbor relationship.

This foundational understanding of the OSPF neighbor discovery process is crucial for comprehending how routers dynamically learn about their neighbors and ultimately build the OSPF topology.