Open Source BGP Tools Overview

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is a routing protocol that is used to exchange routing and reachability information between autonomous systems (ASes) on the Internet. BGP is designed to be used in large-scale network environments and is used by many organizations and service providers to help route Internet traffic and establish Internet connectivity.

BGP works by sending routing information between BGP routers, which are specialized devices that are responsible for exchanging routing information with other BGP routers. BGP routers use this information to build a routing table that describes how to reach different networks and destinations on the Internet.

BGP is a complex and powerful protocol that includes a wide range of features and options for configuring and managing routing policies. Some of the key features of BGP include support for route aggregation, traffic engineering, and multicast routing. BGP is also capable of handling large numbers of routing updates and prefixes, making it well-suited for use in high-traffic network environments.

Features

• Path vector routing: BGP is a path vector protocol, which means it uses the AS_PATH attribute to store a list of autonomous systems a route has traversed. This information is used to prevent routing loops and to select the best path to a destination.
• Policy-based routing: BGP allows administrators to specify routing policies based on various attributes of a route, such as the source AS, the destination prefix, or the path length. This allows administrators to shape traffic and control the path that traffic takes through the network.
• Multi-protocol support: BGP supports multiple network layer protocols, including IPv4 and IPv6. This allows it to be used to exchange routing information for different types of networks.
• Graceful restart: BGP supports graceful restart, which allows a router to restart without disrupting the routing process. This helps to ensure that the network remains stable during router upgrades or other maintenance activities.
• Security: BGP has built-in security measures to prevent unauthorized updates and to authenticate BGP speakers. This helps to ensure that the routing information exchanged between BGP systems is accurate and can be trusted.

Limitations of BGP

BGP has been in widespread use for over three decades and is a critical component of the Internet’s routing infrastructure. It is likely that BGP will continue to be used for the foreseeable future, despite the development of newer routing protocols.

However, BGP has some limitations that have led to the development of alternative routing protocols. For example, BGP is a slow protocol, with updates taking several minutes to propagate throughout the network. This can make it difficult to quickly respond to changes in the network topology.

There have also been security concerns with BGP, as it relies on trust between autonomous systems and does not have built-in mechanisms to verify the accuracy of routing information. This has led to the development of routing protocols that are more secure and resilient to attacks.

Despite these limitations, BGP is a well-established and widely deployed protocol that has proven to be reliable and resilient over the years. It is likely that BGP will continue to be an important part of the Internet’s routing infrastructure for the foreseeable future, even as newer routing protocols are developed and deployed.

Open Source BGP Tools

There are several open-source tools that can be used to manage Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routing, including:

• Quagga: Quagga is a suite of routing protocols that includes support for BGP. It is written in C and is available for Unix-like operating systems.
• BIRD: BIRD is a routing daemon that supports a wide range of routing protocols, including BGP. It is written in C and is available for Unix-like operating systems.
• ExaBGP: ExaBGP is a BGP announcing tool that allows you to announce routes to the Internet using BGP. It is written in Python and is available for Unix-like operating systems.
• GoBGP: GoBGP is a BGP implementation written in Go. It can be used as a BGP router or as a route server.
• OpenBGPD: OpenBGPD is a BGP implementation that is part of the OpenBSD operating system. It is written in C and is available for Unix-like operating systems.

These tools can be used to configure and manage BGP routing on your network, allowing you to exchange routing information with other networks and make informed routing decisions. More in-depth descriptions are below.

Quagga

Quagga is a suite of routing software that provides TCP/IP based routing services with routing protocols support such as OSPF, BGP, and RIP. It is designed to be used as a routing daemon for Unix-like operating systems.

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is a routing protocol that is used to exchange routing and reachability information between autonomous systems (ASes) on the Internet. BGP is often used to establish Internet routing between ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and to enable Internet traffic to flow between different ASes.

Quagga includes a BGP implementation that allows it to function as a BGP router, enabling it to exchange routing information with other BGP routers. Quagga is used by many organizations and service providers to help route Internet traffic and establish Internet connectivity.

Features

• Support for multiple routing protocols: In addition to BGP, Quagga also supports other routing protocols such as OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) and RIP (Routing Information Protocol).
• High performance and scalability: Quagga is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it well-suited for use in high-traffic network environments. It is also highly scalable, making it capable of handling large numbers of routing updates and prefixes.
• Modular design: Quagga is designed to be modular, with a core routing engine and a set of plugins that provide additional functionality. This modular design allows users to customize Quagga to fit their specific needs.
• Robust logging and monitoring capabilities: Quagga includes a variety of tools for logging and monitoring routing activity, making it easy to track and troubleshoot routing-based networks.
• Support for various platforms: Quagga is supported on a wide range of platforms, including Linux, BSD, and Solaris.
• BGP-specific features: Quagga’s BGP implementation includes a number of features specifically designed for use with BGP, including support for route filtering, route aggregation, and traffic engineering. It also includes tools for generating BGP traffic and for simulating network outages and other events.

Bird (BIRD Internet Routing Daemon)

BIRD is a free, open-source routing software that provides TCP/IP based routing services with support for a variety of routing protocols, including BGP (Border Gateway Protocol).

BIRD is a flexible and powerful routing daemon that can be used to implement various routing policies and to provide connectivity between different network domains. It is designed to be lightweight and easy to use, and it is widely used in both large and small network environments.

In addition to BGP, BIRD also supports other routing protocols such as OSPF, RIP, and static routes. It can be used to implement a variety of routing configurations and policies, including BGP peering, route filtering, route aggregation, and load balancing.

Features

• Support for multiple routing protocols: In addition to BGP, BIRD also supports other routing protocols such as OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) and RIP (Routing Information Protocol).
• High performance and scalability: BIRD is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it well-suited for use in high-traffic network environments. It is also highly scalable, making it capable of handling large numbers of routing updates and prefixes.
• Flexibility and customization: BIRD is designed to be highly flexible, with a wide range of options for configuring and managing routing policies. It also includes support for a variety of BGP-specific features, including route filtering, route aggregation, and load balancing.
• Robust logging and monitoring capabilities: BIRD includes a variety of tools for logging and monitoring routing activity, making it easy to track and troubleshoot routing-based networks.
• Support for various platforms: BIRD is supported on a wide range of platforms, including Linux, BSD, and Solaris.
• BGP-specific features: BIRD’s BGP implementation includes a number of features specifically designed for use with BGP, including support for route filtering, route aggregation, and traffic engineering. It also includes tools for generating BGP traffic and for simulating network outages and other events.

ExaBGP

ExaBGP is a software program that is used to implement and manage BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) routing in large-scale networks.

ExaBGP is designed to be a highly flexible and scalable BGP implementation that can be used in a variety of network environments. It is written in Python and is intended to be easy to use and customize. ExaBGP can be used to implement a variety of BGP-based routing configurations, including route filtering, route aggregation, load balancing, and traffic engineering.

In addition to its core BGP functionality, ExaBGP also includes a number of features that make it particularly useful for network management and testing. For example, it includes tools for generating BGP traffic and for simulating network outages and other events. It also has a robust set of logging and monitoring capabilities, making it easy to track and troubleshoot BGP-based networks.

Features

1. Support for BGP: ExaBGP is designed specifically for use with BGP, the primary routing protocol used on the Internet. It provides a variety of features and tools for managing BGP routing, including support for route filtering, route aggregation, and traffic engineering.
2. High performance and scalability: ExaBGP is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it well-suited for use in high-traffic network environments. It is also highly scalable, making it capable of handling large numbers of routing updates and prefixes.
3. Flexibility and customization: ExaBGP is designed to be highly flexible, with a wide range of options for configuring and managing routing policies. It can be customized through the use of external scripts, allowing users to implement complex routing configurations.
4. Robust logging and monitoring capabilities: ExaBGP includes a variety of tools for logging and monitoring routing activity, making it easy to track and troubleshoot routing-based networks.
5. Support for various platforms: ExaBGP is supported on a wide range of platforms, including Linux, BSD, and Solaris.
6. Testing and simulation capabilities: ExaBGP includes tools for generating BGP traffic and for simulating network outages and other events, making it useful for testing and troubleshooting network configurations.
7. Easy to use: ExaBGP is written in Python and is intended to be easy to use and customize. It includes a simple command-line interface and clear documentation.

OpenBGPD

OpenBGPD is an open-source implementation of the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). 

OpenBGPD is a high-performance, scalable BGP daemon that is designed to be used in a variety of network environments. It is written in C and is intended to be lightweight and efficient, making it well-suited for use in high-traffic network environments.

In addition to its core BGP functionality, OpenBGPD also includes a number of features that make it particularly useful for network management and troubleshooting. For example, it includes tools for generating BGP traffic and for simulating network outages and other events. It also has a robust set of logging and monitoring capabilities, making it easy to track and troubleshoot BGP-based networks. OpenBGPD is widely used by ISPs and other organizations that rely on BGP to establish Internet connectivity and route traffic.

Features

• Support for BGP: OpenBGPD is designed specifically for use with BGP, the primary routing protocol used on the Internet. It provides a variety of features and tools for managing BGP routing, including support for route filtering, route aggregation, and traffic engineering.
• High performance and scalability: OpenBGPD is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it well-suited for use in high-traffic network environments. It is also highly scalable, making it capable of handling large numbers of routing updates and prefixes.
• Modular design: OpenBGPD is designed to be modular, with a core routing engine and a set of plugins that provide additional functionality. This modular design allows users to customize OpenBGPD to fit their specific needs.
• Robust logging and monitoring capabilities: OpenBGPD includes a variety of tools for logging and monitoring routing activity, making it easy to track and troubleshoot routing-based networks.
• Support for various platforms: OpenBGPD is supported on a wide range of platforms, including Linux, BSD, and Solaris.
• BGP-specific features: OpenBGPD’s BGP implementation includes a number of features specifically designed for use with BGP, including support for route filtering, route aggregation, and traffic engineering. It also includes tools for generating BGP traffic and for simulating network outages and other events.

FRRouting

FRRouting (FRR) is a network routing software suite that provides TCP/IP based routing services with support for a variety of routing protocols, including BGP (Border Gateway Protocol), OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), and RIP (Routing Information Protocol). FRR is designed to be used as a routing daemon for Unix-like operating systems and is intended to be lightweight, modular, and easy to use.

FRR is widely used by ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and other organizations to help route Internet traffic and establish Internet connectivity. It is also used in a variety of other network environments, including enterprise networks, data centers, and virtual private networks (VPNs).

In addition to its core routing functionality, FRR also includes a number of features that make it particularly useful for network management and troubleshooting. For example, it includes tools for generating routing traffic and for simulating network outages and other events. It also has a robust set of logging and monitoring capabilities, making it easy to track and troubleshoot routing-based networks.

Features

• Support for multiple routing protocols: FRR supports a wide range of routing protocols, including BGP (Border Gateway Protocol), OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), and RIP (Routing Information Protocol).
• High performance and scalability: FRR is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it well-suited for use in high-traffic network environments. It is also highly scalable, making it capable of handling large numbers of routing updates and prefixes.
• Modular design: FRR is designed to be modular, with a core routing engine and a set of plugins that provide additional functionality. This modular design allows users to customize FRR to fit their specific needs.
• Easy to use: FRR is intended to be easy to use and configure, with a simple command-line interface and clear documentation.
• Robust logging and monitoring capabilities: FRR includes a variety of tools for logging and monitoring routing activity, making it easy to track and troubleshoot routing-based networks.
• Support for virtualization: FRR includes support for virtualization technologies such as VXLAN (Virtual Extensible LAN) and VRF (Virtual Routing and Forwarding), making it well-suited for use in virtualized network environments.
• Support for various platforms: FRR is supported on a wide range of platforms, including Linux, BSD, and Solaris. It is also available as a Docker image.

Kube-Router

Kube-router is an open-source network router that is designed specifically for use with Kubernetes, a popular container orchestration platform. Kube-router is used to provide network connectivity between different containers and pods within a Kubernetes cluster, as well as between the cluster and external networks.

Kube-router includes a number of features that make it well-suited for use in containerized environments. For example, it includes support for network policies, which allow administrators to control and secure network traffic between different pods and containers. It also includes support for services, which allow users to expose certain pods or containers to external networks.

Kube-router is designed to be easy to use and integrate into existing Kubernetes clusters. It is implemented as a set of Kubernetes resources, making it easy to deploy and manage using standard Kubernetes tools and techniques.

In addition to its core routing functionality, Kube-router also includes a number of features that make it particularly useful for network management and troubleshooting. For example, it includes tools for generating routing traffic and for simulating network outages and other events. It also has a robust set of logging and monitoring capabilities, making it easy to track and troubleshoot routing-based networks.

Features

• Support for Kubernetes: Kube-router is designed specifically for use with Kubernetes, and is implemented as a set of Kubernetes resources. It is designed to be easy to use and integrate into existing Kubernetes clusters.
• Network policies: Kube-router includes support for network policies, which allow administrators to control and secure network traffic between different pods and containers.
• Services: Kube-router includes support for services, which allow users to expose certain pods or containers to external networks.
• High performance and scalability: Kube-router is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it well-suited for use in high-traffic containerized environments. It is also highly scalable, making it capable of handling large numbers of routing updates and prefixes.
• Robust logging and monitoring capabilities: Kube-router includes a variety of tools for logging and monitoring routing activity, making it easy to track and troubleshoot routing-based networks.
• Testing and simulation capabilities: Kube-router includes tools for generating routing traffic and for simulating network outages and other events, making it useful for testing and troubleshooting network configurations.
• Support for various platforms: Kube-router is supported on a wide range of platforms, including Linux, BSD, and Solaris. It is also available as a Docker image.

XORP (eXtensible Open Router Platform)

XORP is a free, open-source routing software suite that provides TCP/IP based routing services with support for a variety of routing protocols, including BGP (Border Gateway Protocol), OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), and RIP (Routing Information Protocol). XORP is designed to be used as a routing daemon for Unix-like operating systems and is intended to be lightweight, modular, and easy to use.

XORP includes a BGP implementation that allows it to function as a BGP router, enabling it to exchange routing information with other BGP routers. XORP is used by many organizations and service providers to help route Internet traffic and establish Internet connectivity.

In addition to its core routing functionality, XORP also includes a number of features that make it particularly useful for network management and troubleshooting. For example, it includes tools for generating routing traffic and for simulating network outages and other events. It also has a robust set of logging and monitoring capabilities, making it easy to track and troubleshoot routing-based networks.

Features

• Support for multiple routing protocols: XORP supports a wide range of routing protocols, including BGP (Border Gateway Protocol), OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), and RIP (Routing Information Protocol).
• High performance and scalability: XORP is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it well-suited for use in high-traffic network environments. It is also highly scalable, making it capable of handling large numbers of routing updates and prefixes.
• Modular design: XORP is designed to be modular, with a core routing engine and a set of plugins that provide additional functionality. This modular design allows users to customize XORP to fit their specific needs.
• Robust logging and monitoring capabilities: XORP includes a variety of tools for logging and monitoring routing activity, making it easy to track and troubleshoot routing-based networks.
• Support for various platforms: XORP is supported on a wide range of platforms, including Linux, BSD, and Solaris.
• Testing and simulation capabilities: XORP includes tools for generating routing traffic and for simulating network outages and other events, making it useful for testing and troubleshooting network configurations.
• Easy to use: XORP is intended to be easy

VRNETLAB (Virtual Router NETwork LABoratory)

VRNETLAB is a tool that allows users to simulate network environments and test network routing protocols, including BGP (Border Gateway Protocol). VRNETLAB is implemented as a virtual machine (VM) and is designed to be used in a variety of network environments, including data centers, enterprise networks, and Internet Service Provider (ISP) networks.

VRNETLAB includes a BGP implementation that allows users to simulate BGP routers and test BGP-based routing configurations. It includes a variety of tools and features that make it easy to test and troubleshoot BGP-based networks, including support for route filtering, route aggregation, and traffic engineering.

In addition to its BGP functionality, VRNETLAB also includes support for a variety of other routing protocols, including OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) and RIP (Routing Information Protocol). It also includes a range of network management and troubleshooting tools, making it a useful tool for network administrators and engineers.

Features

• Support for BGP and other routing protocols: VRNETLAB includes support for a wide range of routing protocols, including BGP, OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), and RIP (Routing Information Protocol).
• Virtual machine (VM) based: VRNETLAB is implemented as a virtual machine (VM), making it easy to deploy and run in a variety of network environments.
• BGP-specific features: VRNETLAB’s BGP implementation includes a number of features specifically designed for use with BGP, including support for route filtering, route aggregation, and traffic engineering. It also includes tools for generating BGP traffic and for simulating network outages and other events.
• Testing and simulation capabilities: VRNETLAB includes a variety of tools for testing and simulating network environments, making it useful for testing and troubleshooting network configurations.
• Robust logging and monitoring capabilities: VRNETLAB includes a variety of tools for logging and monitoring routing activity, making it easy to track and troubleshoot routing-based networks.
• Easy to use: VRNETLAB is intended to be easy to use and configure, with a simple command-line interface and clear documentation.

GOBGP

GoBGP is a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) implementation written in the Go programming language. It can be used as a BGP router or as a route server. GoBGP allows you to configure and manage BGP routing on your network, allowing you to exchange routing information with other networks and make informed routing decisions.

GoBGP is an open-source tool that is available for download and use on Unix-like operating systems. It provides a command-line interface and a REST API for configuring and managing BGP routes. GoBGP is designed to be scalable and flexible, and it supports a wide range of features and options for BGP routing.

Features

• Scalability: GoBGP is designed to be scalable and can handle a large number of BGP routes and connections.
• Flexibility: GoBGP supports a wide range of features and options for BGP routing, allowing you to customize your BGP configuration to meet your specific needs.
• Route server: GoBGP can be used as a route server, allowing you to exchange routing information with other networks without establishing a full BGP peering session.
• Multi-protocol support: GoBGP supports multiple routing protocols, including IPv4, IPv6, and MPLS.
• Community support: GoBGP has an active community of users and developers who contribute to the project and provide support.
• REST API: GoBGP provides a REST API for configuring and managing BGP routes, allowing you to automate your BGP configuration and management tasks.
• Command-line interface: GoBGP provides a command-line interface for configuring and managing BGP routes, allowing you to easily control your BGP configuration from the terminal.

Overall, GoBGP is a powerful tool for managing BGP routing on your network, and its wide range of features and options make it suitable for a variety of use cases.