Question : Problem: OSPF Question

I have a router which connects to another router via OSPF area 3.  The interfaces are configured as so...

ROUTER 1:
interface Ethernet2/1
 description Connected to Router 2
 ip address 172.18.0.1 255.255.255.0
 half-duplex

router ospf 1
 network 192.168.20.1 0.0.0.0 area 0
 network 172.18.0.1 0.0.0.0 area 3
 area 3 virtual-link 172.18.0.2

ROUTER 2
interface Ethernet0/0
 ip address 172.18.0.2 255.255.255.0
 no ip directed-broadcast
 ip ospf interface-retry 0

router ospf 1
 area 3 virtual-link 172.18.0.1
 network 172.18.0.2 0.0.0.0 area 3

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I found that if router 2 did not have an interface in area 0, I had to configure a virtual link to get OSPF to work.  This is ok, but how then do you configure area 3 to be a stub or totally stubby area?  If I issue the command "area 3 stub" on router 1, I am told this can't be done because of the virtual link.

Is it true every router has to have a PHYSICAL interface within area 0, or have a virtual link configured?  I thought it only needed to be connected to another router which had a connection to area 0, thus joining the 2 areas.  If a physical connection is required, configuring stub areas becomes impossible does it not?

Answer : Problem: OSPF Question

You were originally correct - an area needs only a single router connected to area 0.  The one thing about stub and totally stub areas is that EVERY router in that area must agree on the stub status or updates will not function correctly.  Make sure all routers in the area are configured for stub.