While the exam code is legacy, the core concepts of BGP taught by Jeremy Cioara remain highly relevant. BGP is a stable protocol; the fundamentals covered—such as path selection, attributes, and neighbor relationship management—are fundamentally the same in modern Cisco IOS XE, XR, and NX-OS. This training is an excellent choice for:
Jeremy Cioara takes learners through a logical progression of BGP topics, from basic setup to advanced policy control.
The 642-661 series followed a golden arc:
The course kicks off by contrasting BGP with Interior Gateway Protocols (IGPs). Students learn about Autonomous Systems (AS), the differences between and External BGP (eBGP) , and the mandatory loop-prevention mechanisms inherent to both. The BGP Neighbor Relationship
Investing time into this classic training series equips network engineers with the deep, architectural confidence required to design, troubleshoot, and scale modern enterprise networks.
Step-by-step configuration of BGP peers.
Modifying the split-horizon rule by designating central hubs to reflect routes to clients, massively reducing the number of required neighbor statements.
Watching the training videos is only half the battle. To truly master the concepts in the 642-661 curriculum, practical labs are essential. Network engineers studying this material are highly encouraged to pair the videos with simulation tools:
Jeremy Cioara, a world-renowned Cisco trainer known for his high-energy, practical, and often humorous approach to complex IT topics.
Used to tell your AS how to exit the network.
: Configuring Internal BGP (iBGP) and External BGP (eBGP) topologies safely.
The list of autonomous systems a route has traversed (preferring the shortest path). Origin: How the route was introduced into BGP.
Mastering Service Provider Routing: A Deep Dive into the Classic CBT Nuggets Cisco CCIP BGP (642-661) Training with Jeremy Cioara
The CBT Nuggets CCIP BGP series is structured logically, taking an engineer from a complete BGP novice to someone capable of architecting multi-homed internet connections. The course is broken down into several foundational pillars: Overview of BGP Fundamentals
Note: The next-hop-self command is a vital concept Jeremy emphasizes to ensure Router C knows how to reach routes forwarded by Router A. Step 4: Verify and Troubleshoot