Heavy Networking HN783: BGP Routing Policy for Enterprise Networkers: Unpacking IRR and RPSL
May 30, 2025
In this discussion, Jason Ginterd, CTO at Lake Tech Communications and IRR volunteer, and Jake Kuhn, network architect at Fortanix, dive deep into the essentials of Internet Routing Registries (IRRs) and the Routing Policy Specification Language (RPSL). They highlight the critical role of these tools in preventing BGP hijacks. The duo explains the intricate BGP routing policies and shares insights on their historical evolution. Listeners learn about the operational dynamics of IRRs and practical tips for managing routing policies effectively.
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Routing Policy Basics
- Routing policy governs how a network exchanges routes with others, including import and export rules.
- Without proper policy, a network could unintentionally become transit, leading to widespread routing issues.
AS7007 Routing Hijack Incident
- The AS7007 incident in 1997 showed what happens when a misconfiguration causes an ISP to advertise full routes incorrectly.
- This incident highlighted the need for strict routing policy to prevent networks from claiming incorrect transit capabilities.
Enterprise vs Service Provider Policy
- Enterprises mostly use BGP for redundancy, not transit, preferring one provider with backups and limited route announcements.
- Enterprise routing policies are simpler than service providers, focusing on outgoing traffic direction and path preference.