Reddit reviews Internet Routing Architectures (2nd Edition)

Internet Routing Architectures by Sam Halabi is considered by some to be the Holy Bible when it comes to BGP.

> I'm very new to BGP, and there's not a lot of information out there on this topic.

That is absolutely not true, there are tons and tons of information available regarding proper BGP configuration and design :

BGP Design and Implementation
Internet Routing Architecture
Practical BGP
Network Warrior 2

You should really try to understand BGP if you want to optimize your peering. Maybe look at getting someone with BGP experience onboard your project.

I believe you're looking for the Bible, sir.

Are you interested in configuration specifics or just "how BGP works"? For the former, you'll have to go through your vendor more than likely. For the latter, use the bible

The two best books on BGP:

BGP4: Inter-Domain Routing (slight Cisco Juniper slant)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0201379511/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Internet Routing Architectures (slight Juniper Cisco slant)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/157870233X/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My comment would be that both books are somewhat old now. Everyone is running BGP4, some of the "someday in the future" comments have been old hat for a while, etc.

BIRD and Quagga are great and can be run in VMs for simulating BGP. I would suggest trying to build a small ISP network, with 2 "customers" that advertise routes and then figuring out how to send those to each customer properly.

> Internet Routing Architectures (slight Juniper slant) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/157870233X/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
>

This is the bible. However how is a Cisco press book by a Cisco employee a slight juniper slant ;)

As /u/dark15 said, Network Warrior is a great read. Also check out:
Internet Routing Architectures and TCP/IP Illustrated

Network Algorithmics

BGP Design and Implementation. I brought this on a boat, had drank two very, very large margaritas, and dropped it in the ocean. Re-ordered from Amazon before the boat returned to dock.

Internet Routing Architectures

Now here's the thing to keep in mind: it was 13 years ago when I started getting serious about networking. I'm sure if I was starting now I'd have read/bought probably a third less books, and probably a few different ones. My mantra has always been trying to really understand the foundations of protocols -- a very, very strong mental model. I'd say out of those books up there, Network Algorithmics was the most mentally invigorating. There's another Cisco Press book that goes over IOS and the GSR internals that's also a wonderful (if now a bit outdated) read.

As others have mentioned, CCNA will get your started with the basics. After that it's going to depend on what your job's focus is. These are my top 3 recommended readings for anyone getting into networking.

• TCP/IP - TCP/IP Illustrated Vol 1.
  
• OSPF - OSPF: Anatomy of an Internet Routing Protocol
  
• BGP - Internet Routing Architectures

This book tends to be ISP or IP transport centric, but it's got a ton of good into. Internet Routing Architectures