I have 2 linux machines connected to one another over the internet via a IPSec protected GRE tunnel. Each of them are running OSPF from bird 1.3.2. The issue is that one of them will not fully peer with the other, unless the other is started after the one with the issue. Is just stays in state 'loading' while the other machine will be in state 'full'. In other words, node 2 will only go to state 'full' if node 1 is started after node 2. If node 2 is started after node 1, it will sit in state 'loading' forever. Node 1 has no issues. Here is a log from the node that is failing to sync up (node 2): http://pastebin.com/ZjVcc1wB bird> show ospf neighbors axa0: Router ID Pri State DTime Interface Router IP 111.222.333.444 1 loading/ptp 00:13 tun10 172.31.255.255 bird> the config on both machines is identical protocol kernel { learn;; persist; scan time 20; export all; } protocol device { scan time 10; } protocol static { } protocol ospf axa0 { tick 1; rfc1583compat yes; area 0.0.0.0 { stub no; interface "tun*" { hello 5; retransmit 5; cost 10; transmit delay 5; dead 15; wait 50; type ptp; }; }; }