BGP Updates

Innovation Overview

ThousandEyes has introduced BGP Updates, a view of Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) announcements and withdrawals, as seen by our global network of BGP monitors. The data-rich, real-time updating table shows detailed information, including the Autonomous System (AS) path, update type, and timestamp of updates, providing network operators with comprehensive insights into BGP routing.

Feature Highlights

• Real-time Insights: Access near real-time streaming of BGP messages related to any prefixes you monitor. Get immediate visibility into routing changes and make informed decisions quickly.

• Advanced Filtering Options: Utilize filters including RPKI status and time-based selections to refine datasets, with the ability to review up to 30 days of data to verify changes and perform forensic analyses of ongoing or past BGP issues.

• Comprehensive View: View all your monitored prefixes from a single table, supported by data from our global network of ThousandEyes BGP monitors for enhanced routing awareness and security assurance.

Customer Benefits

• Precise Anomaly Detection: Identify the exact BGP update responsible for routing anomalies, such as hijacks, route leaks, or misconfigurations, with comprehensive details including prefix, AS path, BGP communities, and precise timestamps down to the second.

• Traffic Engineering Assurance: Verify traffic engineering changes quickly and help ensure BGP communities propagate as intended, aiding you in your efforts to make sure your policies are working as expected.

• Improved Security: Benefit from real-time RPKI status filtering across your prefixes.

Follow these quick steps to get started with the BGP Updates feature:

1. In the ThousandEyes Platform, go to Routing > BGP Updates.

2. View the columns of data for Prefix, AS Path, Communities, Update Type, Monitor, RPKI Status, and Timestamp (GMT).

3. In the AS Path column, a number in parenthesis indicates AS Path Prepending, with the number reflecting how many times that ASN appears in the path.

4. In the Prefix filter, select All or search for specific prefixes. 

5. In the AS Path filter, select All or search for specific ASNs or AS paths.

6. In the Origin AS filter, select All or search for specific origin ASNs.

7. Go to Add Filter, and add Communities, Monitor, RPKI Status, and Update Type.

8. In the Communities filter, select All or search for specific community strings.

9. In the Monitor filter, select All or select specific monitors.

10. In the RPKI Status filter, select All or select from Valid, Invalid, and NotFound.

11. In the Update Type filter, select All or select Announcement or Withdrawal.

12. Click Reset Filters to reset all filters to their defaults.

13. In the Time Interval pulldown, select a Relative Time Interval or a Fixed Time Interval.

14. Toggle Auto Update on or off.