In the fast-paced world of networking, timely and accurate monitoring is crucial. Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) events, which are essential for routing data across the Internet, can significantly impact network performance and reliability. Recognizing the need for more precise and responsive monitoring, we are excited to introduce our new BGP monitoring and alerting pipeline, a ThousandEyes capability designed to provide 1-minute granularity and near real-time alerting.
The Importance of Timely BGP Monitoring
BGP events, such as route hijacks, flaps, or prefix withdrawals, can disrupt network stability and lead to performance degradation or outages. Research indicates that many BGP events are short-lived.1 This brief duration emphasizes the need for a monitoring system that can quickly detect and respond to these events.
Moreover, when an operator makes changes to affect traffic engineering, they want immediate feedback on how the Internet sees those changes. Our new BGP monitoring and alerting pipeline addresses this need by offering 1-minute granularity, enabling network administrators to detect and respond to BGP events and monitor the effects of their traffic engineering almost as soon as they occur. This level of detail is critical for maintaining network dynamics and minimizing downtime.
Near Real-time Reporting
In addition to high granularity, our new pipeline provides near real-time reporting. This feature enables network administrators to receive alerts and updates almost instantaneously, allowing for swift action to mitigate potentially disruptive issues. This combination of 1-minute granularity and near real-time reporting assures you are always in the loop, with the most up-to-date information at your fingertips.
Simple and Efficient Alert Configuration
As shown in Figure 1, setting up alerts is easy and can be configured to look for different conditions, as defined by the BGP test data that ThousandEyes receives.
In Figure 2 below, we see reachability to the network 2001:7fb:fe01::/48, an IPv6 RIPE beacon prefix being announced and withdrawn every two hours. Note the 1-minute window (9:10 to 9:11 UTC).
When a network change occurs, such as the withdrawal of a prefix, as shown in Figure 3, an alert is sent to the administrator so that they can react promptly to prevent further disruptions.
Customizable Alerting for Different Event Types
Not all BGP events are equal. Some events, such as reachability issues, may not require immediate attention and can be monitored over longer durations. Our new pipeline allows for customizable alerting, enabling you to tune down alerts for less critical events. This flexibility helps ensure you are not overwhelmed with alerts and can focus on the most important issues.
For example, you can set the platform to monitor reachability events observed over n-minute durations, allowing only significant issues to trigger alerts. This customization helps in reducing alert fatigue and enables more efficient network management.
Detailed, Timely, and Actionable BGP Intelligence With ThousandEyes
Our new BGP monitoring and alerting pipeline is a game-changer for network administrators. With 1-minute granularity, you can detect and respond to BGP events and view the consequences of traffic engineering with unparalleled precision.
With the newly added support for near real-time reporting, administrators can stay informed of BGP and network changes with timely updates and alerts.
Lastly, with customizable alerting, you can tailor alerts to match the importance of different BGP event types, reducing unnecessary notifications.
Together, these new ThousandEyes features let you stay ahead of BGP events and continuously monitor your BGP posture to assure that your network remains stable and performs at its best.
Try these new features today by starting a free trial.
1. “A Survey among Network Operators on BGP Prefix Hijacking”