Riverstone Networks WICT1-12 User Manual

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16-14   Riverstone Networks RS Switch Router User Guide   Release 8.0 
BGP Configuration Examples
  BGP Configuration Guide
BGP accounting
16.3.1
BGP Peering Session Example
The router process used for a specific BGP peering session is known as a BGP speaker. A single router can have several 
BGP speakers. Successful BGP peering depends on the establishment of a neighbor relationship between BGP 
speakers. The first step in creating a BGP neighbor relationship is the establishment of a TCP connection (using TCP 
port 179) between peers. 
A BGP Open message can then be sent between peers across the TCP connection to establish various BGP variables 
(BGP Version, AS number (ASN), hold time, BGP identifier, and optional parameters). Upon successful completion 
of the BGP Open negotiations, BGP Update messages containing the BGP routing table can be sent between peers.
BGP does not require a periodic refresh of the entire BGP routing table between peers. Only incremental routing 
changes are exchanged. Therefore, each BGP speaker is required to retain the entire BGP routing table of their peer 
for the duration of the peer’s connection.
Note
To request route database refreshes from peer-hosts, first add 
bgp set 
peer-host/peer-group route refresh
 to the active configuration. Then, 
use the 
bgp clear peer-host soft-inbound
 command. The 
soft-inbound
 option causes the peer-host to re-send it routing information 
without breaking and then reestablishing the connection to the peer-host.
BGP “keepalive” messages are sent between peers periodically to ensure that the peers stay connected. If one of the 
routers encounters a fatal error condition, a BGP notification message is sent to its BGP peer, and the TCP connection 
is closed.
 illustrates a sample BGP peering session: