Versatile Routing and Services with BGP: Understanding and Implementing BGP in SR-OS

Introduction

As defined in the base specification for the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), the primary function of a BGP speaking system is to exchange network reachability information with other BGP speakers while including information on the list of Autonomous Systems that the reachability information traverses. This information can be used to construct a graph of AS connectivity for this reachability, while at the same time removing routing loops and providing operators the ability to implement local policy.

The intention was clear. At its conception, BGP was to be used for exchanging Internet routes between Autonomous Systems/Internet Service Providers. As a result, the protocol was built with characteristics that above all provided a level of stability among the constant churn of the Internet routing table.

During the last 15 or so years the use of BGP has evolved significantly. From a deployment perspective, operators have learned from experience and shared those experiences with the wider community to everybody's mutual benefit. BGP is well understood and is considered a mature protocol. From a service delivery perspective, the evolution is two-fold:

• The Internet is no longer perceived as a best-effort service. Instead, it has become a must-have, always-on service for businesses and homes.
• BGP's scalability and flexibility, together with its numerous hooks that allow for application of policy, have made it the Service Provider's protocol of choice for service enablement. ...