Training description

This training, which is designed for 5 days, introduces students to the principles of the BGP routing protocol. Students will learn not only how to use BGP to connect clients to the provider's network or several segments of the provider's network, but also how to use additional mechanisms for optimizing the route selection process, for example, path attributes. In addition, the possibilities of filtering routes using various technologies will be considered.
The training contains 5 extensive laboratory works, during which students will improve the skills of implementing and configuring BGP on devices running Cisco IOS.

Intended Audience

This training will be most useful for system administrators, system engineers, network engineers, technical support engineers who work with routing based on the BGP protocol.

Expected students’ skills and knowledge

For understanding the materials of this training students will need have a basic knowledge of routing in IP networks. In addition, it is recommended to have the knowledge and experience equal to «Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices Part 1 (ICND1)», «Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices Part 2 (ICND2)», «Implementing Cisco IP Routing (ROUTE)» courses.

Training outline

Chapter 1. BGP Overview.

• Introducing BGP.
• Understanding BGP Path Attributes.
• Establishing BGP Sessions.
• Processing BGP Routes.
• Configuring Basic BGP.
• Monitoring and Troubleshooting BGP.

Chapter 2. BGP Transit Autonomous Systems.

• Working with a Transit AS.
• Interacting with IBGP and EBGP in a Transit AS.
• Forwarding Packets in a Transit AS.
• Monitoring and Troubleshooting IBGP in a Transit AS.

Chapter 3. Route Selection using Policy Controls.

• Using Multihomed BGP Networks.
• Employing AS – Path Filters.
• Filtering with Prefix-Lists.
• Using Outbound Route Filtering.
• Applying Route-Maps as BGP Filters.
• Implementing Changes in BGP Policy.

Chapter 4. Route Selection Using Attributes.

• Influencing BGP Route Selection with Weights.
• Setting BGP Local Preference.
• Using AS-Path Prepending.
• Understanding the BGP Multi-Exit Discriminator.
• Addressing BGP Communities.

Chapter 5. Customer-to-Provider Connectivity with BGP.

• Understanding Customer-to-Provider Connectivity Requirements.
• Implementing Customer Connectivity Using Static Routing.
• Connecting a Multihomed Customer to a Single Service Provider.
• Connecting a Multihomed Customer to Multiple Service Providers.

Chapter 6. Scaling Service Provider Networks.

• Scaling IGP and BGP in Service Provider Networks.
• Introducing and Designing Route Reflectors.
• Configuring and Monitoring Route Reflectors.

Chapter 7. Optimizing BGP Scalability.

• Improving BGP Convergence.
• Limiting the Number of Prefixes Received from a BGP Neighbor.
• Implementing BGP Peer Groups.
• Using BGP Route Dampening.