BGP Default Route

We will discuss the different ways to advertise a default route in BGP. We will use following network topology for the same.

bgp-default-route

1. default-information originate

A default route can be injected into BGP with the command ‘default-information originate’. Following conditions must be fulfilled to use this method.

– A default route must be in the local routing table.
– The default route must be redistributed into the BGP
– Add ‘default-information originate’ under router bgp <ASN>

Here is the initial configuration and BGP status on all routers.

R1

R2

R3

R4

Let’s first try to add a static default route and redistribute it into BGP on R1.

R1#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
R1(config)#ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 null0
R1(config)#router bgp 100
R1(config-router)#redistribute static
R1(config-router)#
R1(config-router)#do sh run | s bgp
router bgp 100
 bgp router-id 1.1.1.1
 bgp log-neighbor-changes
 network 1.1.1.0 mask 255.255.255.0
 redistribute static
 neighbor 12.12.12.2 remote-as 200
 neighbor 13.13.13.3 remote-as 300
 neighbor 14.14.14.4 remote-as 100
 neighbor 14.14.14.4 next-hop-self
R1(config-router)#do sh ip route 0.0.0.0
Routing entry for 0.0.0.0/0, supernet
  Known via "static", distance 1, metric 0 (connected), candidate default path
  Redistributing via bgp 100
  Routing Descriptor Blocks:
  * directly connected, via Null0
      Route metric is 0, traffic share count is 1
R1(config-router)#
R1(config-router)#do sh ip bgp
BGP table version is 10, local router ID is 1.1.1.1
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
 *>  1.1.1.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
 *>  2.2.2.0/24       12.12.12.2               0             0 200 i
 *>  3.3.3.0/24       13.13.13.3               0             0 300 i
 r>i 4.4.4.0/24       14.14.14.4               0    100      0 i
R1(config-router)#

R1 is not yet advertising default route into BGP. It shows that simply redistributing a default route into BGP would not help. Let’s add a ‘default-information originate’ under BGP.

R1(config-router)#router bgp 100
R1(config-router)#default-information originate
R1(config-router)#do sh run | s bgp
router bgp 100
 bgp router-id 1.1.1.1
 bgp log-neighbor-changes
 network 1.1.1.0 mask 255.255.255.0
 redistribute static
 neighbor 12.12.12.2 remote-as 200
 neighbor 13.13.13.3 remote-as 300
 neighbor 14.14.14.4 remote-as 100
 neighbor 14.14.14.4 next-hop-self
 default-information originate
R1(config-router)#do sh ip bgp
BGP table version is 11, local router ID is 1.1.1.1
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
 *>  0.0.0.0          0.0.0.0                  0         32768 ?
 *>  1.1.1.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
 *>  2.2.2.0/24       12.12.12.2               0             0 200 i
 *>  3.3.3.0/24       13.13.13.3               0             0 300 i
 r>i 4.4.4.0/24       14.14.14.4               0    100      0 i
R1(config-router)#

Now you can see all BGP peers (iBGP and eBGP) are receiving default route information from R1.

R2#sh ip bgp
BGP table version is 10, local router ID is 2.2.2.2
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
 *>  0.0.0.0          12.12.12.1               0             0 100 ?
 *>  1.1.1.0/24       12.12.12.1               0             0 100 i
 *>  2.2.2.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
 *>  3.3.3.0/24       12.12.12.1                             0 100 300 i
 *>  4.4.4.0/24       12.12.12.1                             0 100 i
R2#sh ip route 0.0.0.0
Routing entry for 0.0.0.0/0, supernet
  Known via "bgp 200", distance 20, metric 0, candidate default path
  Tag 100, type external
  Last update from 12.12.12.1 00:02:25 ago
  Routing Descriptor Blocks:
  * 12.12.12.1, from 12.12.12.1, 00:02:25 ago
      Route metric is 0, traffic share count is 1
      AS Hops 1
      Route tag 100
      MPLS label: none
R2#
R3#sh ip bgp
BGP table version is 8, local router ID is 3.3.3.3
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
 *>  0.0.0.0          13.13.13.1               0             0 100 ?
 *>  1.1.1.0/24       13.13.13.1               0             0 100 i
 *>  2.2.2.0/24       13.13.13.1                             0 100 200 i
 *>  3.3.3.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
 *>  4.4.4.0/24       13.13.13.1                             0 100 i
R3#sh ip route 0.0.0.0
Routing entry for 0.0.0.0/0, supernet
  Known via "bgp 300", distance 20, metric 0, candidate default path
  Tag 100, type external
  Last update from 13.13.13.1 00:04:36 ago
  Routing Descriptor Blocks:
  * 13.13.13.1, from 13.13.13.1, 00:04:36 ago
      Route metric is 0, traffic share count is 1
      AS Hops 1
      Route tag 100
      MPLS label: none
R3#
R4#sh ip bgp
BGP table version is 8, local router ID is 4.4.4.4
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
 *>i 0.0.0.0          14.14.14.1               0    100      0 ?
 r>i 1.1.1.0/24       14.14.14.1               0    100      0 i
 *>i 2.2.2.0/24       14.14.14.1               0    100      0 200 i
 *>i 3.3.3.0/24       14.14.14.1               0    100      0 300 i
 *>  4.4.4.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
R4#sh ip route 0.0.0.0
Routing entry for 0.0.0.0/0, supernet
  Known via "bgp 100", distance 200, metric 0, candidate default path, type internal
  Last update from 14.14.14.1 00:05:21 ago
  Routing Descriptor Blocks:
  * 14.14.14.1, from 14.14.14.1, 00:05:21 ago
      Route metric is 0, traffic share count is 1
      AS Hops 0
      MPLS label: none

 

2. network 0.0.0.0

A default route can be injected into BGP with configuration of ‘network 0.0.0.0’ under BGP if a default route is available in the local routing table of a router.

Following conditions must be fulfilled to use this method.

– A default route must be in the local routing table.
– Add ‘network 0.0.0.0’ under router bgp <ASN>

Let’s remove previously configured ‘default-information originate’ and ‘redistribute static’ commands and use ‘network 0.0.0.0’.

R1#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
R1(config)#router bgp 100
R1(config-router)#no default-information originate
R1(config-router)#no redistribute static
R1(config-router)#network 0.0.0.0
R1(config-router)#do sh run | s bgp
router bgp 100
 bgp router-id 1.1.1.1
 bgp log-neighbor-changes
 network 0.0.0.0
 network 1.1.1.0 mask 255.255.255.0
 neighbor 12.12.12.2 remote-as 200
 neighbor 13.13.13.3 remote-as 300
 neighbor 14.14.14.4 remote-as 100
 neighbor 14.14.14.4 next-hop-self
R1(config-router)#end
R1#sh ip
*Mar 24 11:42:36.623: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console
R1#sh ip bgp
BGP table version is 13, local router ID is 1.1.1.1
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
 *>  0.0.0.0          0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
 *>  1.1.1.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
 *>  2.2.2.0/24       12.12.12.2               0             0 200 i
 *>  3.3.3.0/24       13.13.13.3               0             0 300 i
 r>i 4.4.4.0/24       14.14.14.4               0    100      0 i
R1#

Let’s verify BGP table and default route on peer routers.

R2#sh ip bgp
BGP table version is 12, local router ID is 2.2.2.2
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
 *>  0.0.0.0          12.12.12.1               0             0 100 i
 *>  1.1.1.0/24       12.12.12.1               0             0 100 i
 *>  2.2.2.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
 *>  3.3.3.0/24       12.12.12.1                             0 100 300 i
 *>  4.4.4.0/24       12.12.12.1                             0 100 i
R2#sh ip route 0.0.0.0
Routing entry for 0.0.0.0/0, supernet
  Known via "bgp 200", distance 20, metric 0, candidate default path
  Tag 100, type external
  Last update from 12.12.12.1 00:01:54 ago
  Routing Descriptor Blocks:
  * 12.12.12.1, from 12.12.12.1, 00:01:54 ago
      Route metric is 0, traffic share count is 1
      AS Hops 1
      Route tag 100
      MPLS label: none
R3#sh ip bgp
BGP table version is 10, local router ID is 3.3.3.3
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
 *>  0.0.0.0          13.13.13.1               0             0 100 i
 *>  1.1.1.0/24       13.13.13.1               0             0 100 i
 *>  2.2.2.0/24       13.13.13.1                             0 100 200 i
 *>  3.3.3.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
 *>  4.4.4.0/24       13.13.13.1                             0 100 i
R3#sh ip route 0.0.0.0
Routing entry for 0.0.0.0/0, supernet
  Known via "bgp 300", distance 20, metric 0, candidate default path
  Tag 100, type external
  Last update from 13.13.13.1 00:02:17 ago
  Routing Descriptor Blocks:
  * 13.13.13.1, from 13.13.13.1, 00:02:17 ago
      Route metric is 0, traffic share count is 1
      AS Hops 1
      Route tag 100
      MPLS label: none
R4#sh ip bgp
BGP table version is 10, local router ID is 4.4.4.4
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
 *>i 0.0.0.0          14.14.14.1               0    100      0 i
 r>i 1.1.1.0/24       14.14.14.1               0    100      0 i
 *>i 2.2.2.0/24       14.14.14.1               0    100      0 200 i
 *>i 3.3.3.0/24       14.14.14.1               0    100      0 300 i
 *>  4.4.4.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
R4#sh ip route 0.0.0.0
Routing entry for 0.0.0.0/0, supernet
  Known via "bgp 100", distance 200, metric 0, candidate default path, type internal
  Last update from 14.14.14.1 00:03:06 ago
  Routing Descriptor Blocks:
  * 14.14.14.1, from 14.14.14.1, 00:03:06 ago
      Route metric is 0, traffic share count is 1
      AS Hops 0
      MPLS label: none

 

3. neighbor x.x.x.x default-originate

If you want to advertise default route to a specific peer, this is the method for that requirement.

– Add ‘neighbor x.x.x.x default-originate’ under router bgp <ASN>
– It does not even check for the existence of a default route in the IP routing table
– The ‘default-information originate’ command should not be configured with the ‘neighbor x.x.x.x default-originate’ command on the same router

Let’s remove previously configured commands.

R1#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
R1(config)#no ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 Null0
R1(config)#router bgp 100
R1(config-router)#no  network 0.0.0.0
R1(config-router)#end
R1#sh run
*Mar 24 11:50:22.479: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console
R1#sh run | s bgp
router bgp 100
 bgp router-id 1.1.1.1
 bgp log-neighbor-changes
 network 1.1.1.0 mask 255.255.255.0
 neighbor 12.12.12.2 remote-as 200
 neighbor 13.13.13.3 remote-as 300
 neighbor 14.14.14.4 remote-as 100
 neighbor 14.14.14.4 next-hop-self
R1#sh ip route 0.0.0.0
% Network not in table
R1#sh ip bgp
BGP table version is 14, local router ID is 1.1.1.1
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
 *>  1.1.1.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
 *>  2.2.2.0/24       12.12.12.2               0             0 200 i
 *>  3.3.3.0/24       13.13.13.3               0             0 300 i
 r>i 4.4.4.0/24       14.14.14.4               0    100      0 i

Now advertise default route only to R2.

R1#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
R1(config)#router bgp 100
R1(config-router)#neighbor 12.12.12.2 default-originate
R1(config-router)#end
R1#s
*Mar 24 11:53:46.471: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by consoleh
R1#sh run | s bgp
router bgp 100
 bgp router-id 1.1.1.1
 bgp log-neighbor-changes
 network 1.1.1.0 mask 255.255.255.0
 neighbor 12.12.12.2 remote-as 200
 neighbor 12.12.12.2 default-originate
 neighbor 13.13.13.3 remote-as 300
 neighbor 14.14.14.4 remote-as 100
 neighbor 14.14.14.4 next-hop-self
R1#clear ip bgp 12.12.12.2 soft
R1#sh ip bgp
BGP table version is 15, local router ID is 1.1.1.1
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
     0.0.0.0          0.0.0.0                                0 i
 *>  1.1.1.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
 *>  2.2.2.0/24       12.12.12.2               0             0 200 i
 *>  3.3.3.0/24       13.13.13.3               0             0 300 i
 r>i 4.4.4.0/24       14.14.14.4               0    100      0 i
R1#sh ip route 0.0.0.0
% Network not in table
R1#

Notice there is no default route available in local routing table of R1 and bgp table also shows there is no best route (no *> status) for 0.0.0.0 network.

Let’s verify what R1 is advertising to its peers.

R1#sh ip bgp neighbors 12.12.12.2 advertised-routes
BGP table version is 15, local router ID is 1.1.1.1
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

Originating default network 0.0.0.0

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
 *>  1.1.1.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
 *>  3.3.3.0/24       13.13.13.3               0             0 300 i
 r>i 4.4.4.0/24       14.14.14.4               0    100      0 i

Total number of prefixes 3

R1#sh ip bgp neighbors 13.13.13.3 advertised-routes
BGP table version is 15, local router ID is 1.1.1.1
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
 *>  1.1.1.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
 *>  2.2.2.0/24       12.12.12.2               0             0 200 i
 *>  3.3.3.0/24       13.13.13.3               0             0 300 i
 r>i 4.4.4.0/24       14.14.14.4               0    100      0 i

Total number of prefixes 4

## No default route advertised to R3(13.13.13.3)

Finally, verify BGP table and routing table on all peer routers.

R2#sh ip bgp
BGP table version is 14, local router ID is 2.2.2.2
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
 *>  0.0.0.0          12.12.12.1                             0 100 i
 *>  1.1.1.0/24       12.12.12.1               0             0 100 i
 *>  2.2.2.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
 *>  3.3.3.0/24       12.12.12.1                             0 100 300 i
 *>  4.4.4.0/24       12.12.12.1                             0 100 i
R2#sh ip route 0.0.0.0
Routing entry for 0.0.0.0/0, supernet
  Known via "bgp 200", distance 20, metric 0, candidate default path
  Tag 100, type external
  Last update from 12.12.12.1 00:08:27 ago
  Routing Descriptor Blocks:
  * 12.12.12.1, from 12.12.12.1, 00:08:27 ago
      Route metric is 0, traffic share count is 1
      AS Hops 1
      Route tag 100
      MPLS label: none
R3#sh ip bgp
BGP table version is 11, local router ID is 3.3.3.3
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
 *>  1.1.1.0/24       13.13.13.1               0             0 100 i
 *>  2.2.2.0/24       13.13.13.1                             0 100 200 i
 *>  3.3.3.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
 *>  4.4.4.0/24       13.13.13.1                             0 100 i
R3#sh ip route 0.0.0.0
% Network not in table
R4#sh ip bgp
BGP table version is 11, local router ID is 4.4.4.4
Status codes: s suppressed, d damped, h history, * valid, > best, i - internal,
              r RIB-failure, S Stale, m multipath, b backup-path, f RT-Filter,
              x best-external, a additional-path, c RIB-compressed,
Origin codes: i - IGP, e - EGP, ? - incomplete
RPKI validation codes: V valid, I invalid, N Not found

     Network          Next Hop            Metric LocPrf Weight Path
 r>i 1.1.1.0/24       14.14.14.1               0    100      0 i
 *>i 2.2.2.0/24       14.14.14.1               0    100      0 200 i
 *>i 3.3.3.0/24       14.14.14.1               0    100      0 300 i
 *>  4.4.4.0/24       0.0.0.0                  0         32768 i
R4#sh ip route 0.0.0.0
% Network not in table

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