The Curious Case of the BGP Connect State
The BGP "Connect" state, defined in RFCs 4271 and 9687, is rarely observed in practice, leading to skepticism about its existence.
MAIN POINTS
- A question was raised about the rarity of observing a BGP peer in the "Connect" state.
- The BGP Finite State Machine (FSM) is complex but has consistent basics since RFC 1771.
- RFC 4271 and RFC 9687 define and amend the BGP FSM, including the "Connect" state.
- Skepticism exists regarding the practical occurrence of the "Connect" state in BGP.
TAKEAWAYS
- The "Connect" state in BGP is elusive and rarely seen in real-world scenarios.
- RFCs provide a theoretical framework for BGP states, yet practical evidence is scarce.
- Understanding the BGP FSM requires familiarity with foundational RFCs like 1771.
- The rarity of the "Connect" state raises questions about its documentation and existence.