Object - BGP Synchronization Rule-

1. Do not use or advertise a route learned by IBGP to an external neighbor until a matching
route has been learned from an IGP.
2. In short - BGP will not advertise something that it learns from an IBGP neighbor to an
EBGP neighbor if the prefix can’t be validated in its IGP.
3. By default synchronization rule is disabled, later IOS Version 12.4(24) T5.
4. Therefore BGP can use and advertise to an external BGP NBR routes learned from a
IBGP NBR that are not present in local routing table.
5. Ensures consistency of information throughout the AS or Legacy black-hole prevention
rule.
6. To disabled BGP synchronization rule so that a router will advertise routes in BGP
without learning them in an IGP ( no synchronization under BGP)
7. You can disable synchronization rule using the under BGP command - no
synchronization.

➢ Why turn it off? -

1. IF the AS is a non-transit AS.
2. When all the routers in the AS are fully meshed iBGP.
➢ Advantage of turning it off? -
1. Carry fewer routes in IGP.
2. BGP convergences faster (doesn’t have to spend time checking IGP table)

Lets understand BGP synchronization rule using below a simple topology –

Configuration of all routers-

 ➢ R1#show run | section bgp
➢ router bgp 100
no synchronization
bgp router-id 1.1.1.1
bgp log-neighbor-changes
network 192.168.1.0
neighbor 10.1.1.2 remote-as 200
no auto-summary
R1#
➢ R2#show run | section bgp
➢ router bgp 200
no synchronization
bgp router-id 2.2.2.2
bgp log-neighbor-changes
neighbor 4.4.4.4 remote-as 200
neighbor 4.4.4.4 update-source Loopback1
neighbor 4.4.4.4 next-hop-self
neighbor 10.1.1.1 remote-as 100
no auto-summary
R2#
➢ R3#show run | section bgp
R3#

Note – On router R3 I’m not using BGP protocol and for connectivity purpose only using OSPF
so that iBGP can reachable to each other.

➢ R2#show run | section ospf

➢ router ospf 300
router-id 2.2.2.2
log-adjacency-changes
passive-interface Serial4/0
network 2.2.2.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
network 20.1.1.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
R2#

➢ R3#show run | section ospf

router ospf 300
router-id 3.3.3.3
log-adjacency-changes
 network 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.255 area 0
R3#

➢ R4#show run | section ospf

➢ router ospf 300
router-id 4.4.4.4
log-adjacency-changes
passive-interface Serial4/3
network 4.4.4.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
network 30.1.1.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
R4#
➢ R4#show run | section bgp
router bgp 200
no synchronization
bgp router-id 4.4.4.4
bgp log-neighbor-changes
neighbor 2.2.2.2 remote-as 200
neighbor 2.2.2.2 update-source Loopback1
neighbor 2.2.2.2 next-hop-self
neighbor 40.1.1.2 remote-as 500
no auto-summary
R4#
➢ R5#show run | section bgp
➢ router bgp 500
no synchronization
bgp router-id 5.5.5.5
bgp log-neighbor-changes
network 192.168.2.0
neighbor 40.1.1.1 remote-as 200
no auto-summary
R5#

If you see the bgp configuration where it enabled on the router – BGP synchronization rule
disabled by default using the command – no synchronization.
Lets see bgp table –

As you can see the screenshot IBGP routers are sharing EBGP prefix on router 4,& 5 similarly R1
& R2 due to disabled no synchronization rule-

Let me show you what happens when we enable it, you have to do this on the border routers
(R2 and R4):

➢ R2(config)#router bgp 200

R2(config-router)#synchronization
➢ R4(config)#router bgp 200
R2(config-router)#synchronization

Once you enabled bgp synchronization rule under bgp section then you get following
information as you can see in the below screenshot route is valid not valid & best route –

After enabling no synchronization rule –

As you can see the R2 & R4 router is denying the network 192.168.1.0/24, 192.168.2.0/24

to install in its routing table & BGP table –

Summary of this lab –
 1. I have enabled EBGP between R1 & R2 similarly R4 & R5.
2. R2 & R4 I have configured IGBP which is called indirect neighbor-ship for reach ability
along with OSPF is configured.
3. By default, BGP synchronization is disabled. You can see the no
synchronization command in the configurations of the BGP routers.

Note – here I have configured & explain only basic things about BGP Synchronization.

Point to be remembered – Request to you all please like, share & don’t forget to comment so
that I can improve my technical skill, if you do it will encourage me a lot to make a more note
like this.

You can reach out to me on this email – umesh11238@gmail.com to get more notes
free of cost.

Thanks for sharing your one comment –

Umesh Prajapati