Build your own BGP LAB

If you need to test your bgp configuration before implementing on your routers,
or just for learning purposes you might want to consider zebra.

introduction

zebra is a free software that manages TCP/IP based routing protocols, that includes OSPF,RIP,BGP.
using either a total free solution based on solaris 10, or using a virtual machine system such as vmware, you can build your own farm in a matter of couple hours, and it gives you a wide range of possibilities.
methods

1. VMware

i used Slackware and installed a very minimal system, i reached a 300Mb of a VM system based on slack, and it can be reduced even more. 3 network interfaces and a 16Mb RAM which is enough for BGP small scale testing (i wouldnt recommend using that instead of a router for the internet, but could be very nice for a lab)

after installing Zebra shut down the machine, and copy the VM folder several times, in order to duplicate the machiens to later on create a BGP speaking routers. you can create as many as you want or until your system cripple down

based on what you want to test, give the interfaces ip addresses run the zebra daemons you will use (i used zebra and bgpd for example) login into your zebra daemon “telnet localhost 2601″ configure the ip addresses on the interface and “write mem” to save the config. you should be all set to start messing around with BGP, telnet into your bgp daemon, “telnet localhost 2605″ and start configuring your BGP.

the nice thing here is that you can actually test it and take it a bit further than the standard BGP emulators or Cisco certificate lab software.

you can add machines behind the routers to behave as a server/client (web server, ssh, etc…)
traceroute,create a session, knock off interfaces change BGP settings, traffic shaping, and the list is long. whatever is on your mind you can go ahead and safely test it.

2. SOLARIS 10

solaris 10 introduced zones, zone is a similar to a virtual machine, its a uniqe solaris machine inside the system, and you can create several of these, and configure zebra on them with the same method as on the VMWARE.
i had problems with the virtual interfaces when i wanted to test the routing , and i find it easier if you have several physical interfaces on your machine to give the “routers” , some points in the lab need to have a virtual interface on different physical interface.

this is software wise the completely free solution just in case you dont have vmware, and you know your way in UNIX like systems.
Summary

if you are a network admin that needs to make extra tests but the CTO doesnt give you the money for routers, or if you study for your cisco exams, or if you just allways wanted to start mess around with BGP and never had the chance to do it, this could be a nice solution.

zebra – http://www.zebra.org
Slackware – http://www.slackware.org
solaris 10 – http://www.solaris.com

Admin