Limited Functionality Link State Protocol Node

A method, comprising:

• maintaining, by a partially-participating link state protocol node in a network, a local link state database that is a portion of a network link state database of the network;
• receiving, by the partially-participating link state protocol node on a first interface, a link state protocol data unit (LSP);
• and
• sending the particular LSP from a second interface of the partially-participating link state protocol node without updating the local link state database based on the particular LSP.

A method, comprising:

• maintaining, by a partially-participating link state protocol node in a network, a local link state database that is a portion of a network link state database of the network;
• receiving, by the partially-participating link state protocol node on a first interface, a link state protocol data unit (LSP);
• and
• sending an acknowledgment of the particular LSP from the first interface in response to the partially-participating link state protocol node not having another interface currently participating in the link state protocol distribution.