Bgp4: Inter-Domain Routing in the Internet

This book is awesome - perhaps the best routing protocol book available. Sure it doesn't tie into any single vendors hardware - but for the theory and architecture of HOW BGP works this book is worth it's weight in gold. It might be only 140 pages but with no padding and no filler this book rocks.

If you are just starting to learn BGP, this book and Halabi's "Internet Routing Architectures" are must-reads. The major difference between this book and Halabi's is this book describes what the standard BGP is, while Halabi's is more Cisco centric. I found it easier to start with this book first. It is very concise and get to the point. While Halabi's focuses on Cisco implementation of BGP routing protocol, it gives a lot of examples and plenty of explanation. Cisco TAC engineers use Halabi's as the BGP bible.

This book is about the BGP4 protocol - there's a brief chapter about IP & IP routing, which serves to refresh one's memory, and the rest of the book is about the protocl itself.This book is not tied to any specific router implementation, but rather describes the protocol 'academicaly' in a clear language and with all the needed details.It's an excellent book for two purposes - people who want to study the protocol academicaly, e.g. for a course in computer networks or Internet Protocols, and arent into studying the RFCs that sink into the details, and for people who manage routers/networks and want to understand the protocol before reading a lengthier text specific to some implementation.

Like another reviewer mentioned not to be fooled by its size. This is the best description of BGP4 I've come across so far. Working for a networking company that makes products for the internet core I was asked to educate myself in BGP. This book covers all the basic BGP path attributes to the advanced topics such as router reflectors, confederations and communities. After reading this book I fully understood what routing policy means and how BGP uses that to make the internet work. BGP is indeed the work horse behind the internet.I recommend to read this book before indulging yourself in the RFC1771 for more details.I even the like the simplistic round diagrams throughout the book, a fresh look... something non-cisco And who better to write the book but John himself, one of the brains behind Juniper networks!

I was recommended to read this book at a Global Knowledge class on BGP4. This book really picks up where the class itself left off (and this is the only class given on BGP4, by a total of 6 people qualified - cisco doesn't have such a class). The advanced BGP4 section is perfect, and unlike Bassam Halabi's book (which is also required reading), it is consice, minimalist, and cuts right to the heart of the matter. The sections on route reflection were required to understand our global network, and were clearly explained in this book. Best of all, it fits right in your pocket! A must have.