During which OSPF neighbor state does the router prepare to send and receive routing information?

The correct choice is when the router is in the 2-way state. In this state, routers recognize each other as neighbors and confirm that they have successfully exchanged hello packets. This acknowledgment indicates that the routers see each other as valid neighbors within the OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) protocol.

In the 2-way state, routers will begin the process of establishing the logic needed to exchange link-state information. This is a critical step in preparing to send and receive routing updates, as the routers now understand their relationship, which links them together in the OSPF topology. It signifies that the routers can send link-state advertisements (LSAs) to each other, which are essential for building and maintaining a consistent view of the network.

The other states mentioned relate to different aspects of the OSPF neighbor relationship. For instance, during the Init state, the routers are just beginning the process of neighbor discovery and haven’t yet recognized each other as neighbors. The Loading state is involved in the actual process of exchanging routing information, but this occurs after the preparation phase in the 2-way state is established. The Exstart state involves determining which router will initiate the exchange of database descriptions, but it doesn't yet involve the preparation of sending and receiving