7.8.1.0 - Force10 Networks

A stub AS is one that is connected to only one other AS.
A transit AS is one that provides connections through itself to separate networks. For example as seen in
Figure 114, Router 1 can use Router 2 (the transit AS) to connect to Router 4. ISPs are always transit ASs,
because they provide connections from one network to another. An ISP is considered to be providing
“transit service” to the customer network, so we use the term Transit AS.
When BGP operates within an Autonomous System (AS1 or AS2 as seen in Figure 114), it is
referred to as Internal BGP (IBGP Interior Border Gateway Protocol). When BGP operates
between Autonomous Systems (AS1 and AS2), it is called External BGP (EBGP Exterior Border
Gateway Protocol). IBGP provides routers inside the AS with the knowledge to reach routers external to
the AS. EBGP routers exchange information with other EBGP routers as well as IBGP routers to maintain
connectivity and accessibility.
Figure 114 BGP Autonomous Zones
lpbgp1111
Router 1
Router 3
Router 2
Exterior BGP (EBGP)
Router 4
Router 5
Router 7
AS 1 AS 2
Router 6
BGP version 4 (BGPv4) supports classless interdomain routing and aggregate routes and AS paths. BGP
is a path vector protocol - a computer network in which BGP maintains the path that update
information takes as it diffuses through the network. Updates traveling through the network and
returning to the same node are easily detected and discarded.
BGP does not use traditional Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) matrix, but makes routing decisions
based on path, network policies and/or rulesets. Unlike most protocols, BGP uses TCP as its
transport protocol.
FTOS Configuration Guide, version 7.8.1.0 199