Cisco Systems BGP Multipath

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Subject Author Date
BGP Multipath Darren Green 09-25-08
Posted by Darren Green on September 25, 2008, 7:44 am
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I was able to create a Lab scenario where BGP was load balancing my
traffic across equal cost paths.

My lab network consisted of 2 x separate links (AS 65001) running to a
non MPLS core in another AS. In the Core I effectively have a square, I
will call these devices A, B, C and D.

C---D
| |
A---B
| |
1 2 (AS 65001)

In my Lab when enabling BGP Multipath I saw routes learned for AS 65001
on C & D as equal cost paths, so far so good.

In real life it turns out that the upstream Core uses route-reflectors
not a full iBGP mesh. To this end the RR's (A, B & C only) don't seem
to provide the same result. I found out that my connection from 1 goes
into a 7600 router, this is a RR client of A. My connection from 2 goes
directly into B which is a 7600 router that is not part of a RR cluster.

Surely, using C as an example (a RR for other routers attached to it
call them X + Y), C will receive equal cost BGP routes to 65001 via A
and the link B--D--C (assuming equal metrics for AS-Path, Med etc). I
believe that the RR will only advertise a single best path to it's
clients X + Y but nonetheless can be configured to show 2 x routes in
its IP routing table.

This link provides more info:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios/12_2t/12_2t11/feature/guide/ft11bmpl.html#wp1037704

It shows an example of how to achieve load sharing using RR's,
unfortunately through I am not able to request that the RD is changed. A
full iBGP mesh of the upstream Core for the VRF concerned is currently
being considered. If anyone else has any other ideas though I would be
happy to hear them.

Regards

Darren

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BGP Multipath September 25, 2008, 7:44 am