Implementing BGP

Before configuring BGP on the routers in your network, map out the network BGP topology including autonomous systems (full mesh, route reflected, and confederation), member routers, router peers, peer policy (route-maps)

Required steps to implement BGP in your network:

• Configure each router specifying the autonomous system the router belongs to
• Configure each router as part of a full mesh, route reflection, or confederation topology
• Configure all IBGP and EBGP neighbors for the router including all optional neighbor parameters specified in Configuring BGP Neighbor Parameters

  BGP parameters with default values that can be modified:

• Optionally modify the route MED value using an applied route-map and optional MED behaviors using the appropriate BGP commands
• Optionally modify the local preference of advertised routes for the router
• Optionally modify the BGP route selection priority (distance) compared to other protocols for the router
• Optionally modify maximum allowed EBGP and IBGP ECMP routes for the router

  BGP features that can be configured on the router:

• Optionally configure aggregate addresses
• Optionally configure soft reset on the router by configuring soft reconfiguration for the neighbor or automatic router refresh for the router
• Optionally configure flap dampening on the router
• Optionally enable graceful restart on the router
• Optionally configure outbound route filtering for the router
• Optionally configure BGP route-maps and apply them to configured neighbors and route redistribution
• Optionally configure Syslog and trap behavior for changes in peer state