Setting Up a BGP Peer with Mikrotik RouterOS Version 7

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is an essential protocol for internet routing, enabling autonomous systems (AS) to communicate and exchange routing information. Mikrotik RouterOS Version 7 introduced significant enhancements to its BGP implementation, making it more powerful and versatile. This guide walks you through setting up a BGP peer using RouterOS Version 7.

---

Prerequisites

Before proceeding, ensure you have the following:

• A Mikrotik router running RouterOS Version 7.x.
• Basic understanding of networking and BGP concepts.
• Two autonomous system numbers (ASNs) for the local and remote peers.
• IP connectivity between the local and remote routers.
• Administrative access to the Mikrotik router.

class="wp-block-heading">Step 1: Verify Your RouterOS Version

To verify that your Mikrotik router is running RouterOS Version 7 or higher, execute the following command:

/system/resource/print

Ensure the version displayed is 7.x or above. I recommend the latest Version 7, which, as of this writing, is 7.16.2.

If necessary, upgrade your RouterOS:

/system/package/update/check-for-updates
/system/package/update/install

Step 2: Enable BGP Service

By default, BGP is part of the routing package in RouterOS Version 7. Enable it if not already enabled:

/routing/bgp/instance/add name=default-asn as=65001

Replace 65001 with your local ASN.

Step 3: Configure BGP Instance

A BGP instance defines the local ASN and specifies the router’s role in the BGP topology. Use the following command to create a BGP instance:

/routing/bgp/instance/set default name=bgp-instance as=65001 router-id=192.168.1.1

Replace:

• 65001 with your local ASN.
• 192.168.1.1 with the desired router ID (commonly an IP address from your router).

Step 4: Define BGP Peers

BGP peers are the remote routers with which your router will exchange routes. Add a BGP peer using:

/routing/bgp/connection/add name=peer1 remote.address=192.168.2.1 remote.as=65002

Replace:

• peer1 with a name for the peer.
• 192.168.2.1 with the IP address of the remote peer.
• 65002 with the ASN of the remote peer.

Step 5: Configure Networks to Advertise

To advertise networks, use the prefix command:

/routing/filter/rule/add chain=bgp-out action=accept prefix=10.0.0.0/24
/routing/bgp/connection/set peer1 out-filter=bgp-out

Replace 10.0.0.0/24 with the subnet you wish to advertise.

Step 6: Verify BGP Status

To ensure that the BGP session is established, use the following command:

/routing/bgp/connection/print status

Look for the established state in the output.

Step 7: View Received Routes

To check the routes received from the BGP peer:

/routing/route/print where bgp

Troubleshooting Tips

1. Ensure Connectivity: Verify that the local and remote IP addresses can ping each other./ping 192.168.2.1
2. Check Firewall Rules: Ensure that TCP port 179 is open for BGP communication.
3. Debug Logs: Use the logging feature to debug BGP issues:/system/logging/add topics=routing,bgp action=memoryCheck logs with:/log/print
4. Validate Configuration: Double-check ASN and IP configurations on both ends.

---

Conclusion

Setting up a BGP peer on Mikrotik RouterOS Version 7 is straightforward, thanks to its improved BGP implementation. Following this guide can establish a stable BGP session and manage routes effectively. Monitor the BGP session regularly to ensure optimal performance and quickly address any issues.