For networking professionals in the late 2000s and early 2010s, few training resources commanded the respect and affection of "." This course, designed to prepare candidates for the Cisco CCIP BGP exam (642-661), became legendary not just for its technical depth, but for its distinctive, engaging delivery. This article provides a comprehensive look at that training, its instructor, the platform, and why it remains a landmark in IT education history.
Who this course is best for
Learn how BGP connects over 70,000 Autonomous Systems worldwide.
One of the most valuable segments of the training explains how BGP selects a single path when multiple routes to a destination exist. Cioara simplifies the complex evaluation hierarchy, emphasizing the attributes engineers manipulate most often: Evaluation Criteria Local to the router Highest value preferred (Cisco proprietary) Local Preference Internal AS-wide Highest value preferred Originate Local router Locally originated routes preferred AS-Path Length End-to-end Shortest path preferred MED (Multi-Exit Discriminator) Between neighboring AS Lowest value preferred 3. Scaling the iBGP Mesh For networking professionals in the late 2000s and
: Using prefix lists, route maps, and community strings to control traffic flow.
The 642-661 BGP exam was designed for professionals responsible for configuring and troubleshooting BGP in Cisco service provider networks. The CBT Nuggets training series focuses heavily on the practical application of BGP, not just theoretical concepts.
: The course often steps away from the "exam-only" mindset to discuss how these protocols are used by actual Internet Service Providers. Digestible Length One of the most valuable segments of the
In the landscape of IT certification history, few training courses have achieved the legendary status of Jeremy Cioara’s series. While Cisco has since evolved its certification tracks—retiring the CCIP (Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional) and absorbing its core elements into the modern CCNP Enterprise and CCIE Service Provider curricula—the foundational Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) concepts taught in this training remain the gold standard for network engineering.
The course is no longer on the current roster. The exam number is retired; Cisco has moved on to SPRI (Service Provider Routing and Switching). But ask any network engineer who passed their CCNP/CCIE in the late 2000s about Jeremy’s BGP training, and their eyes go distant.
To understand the enduring impact of this course, you first need to understand its creator. Jeremy Cioara is far more than just a trainer; he is a legend in the IT certification world. A CBT Nuggets trainer since 2003, Jeremy Cioara has inspired and educated a generation of network engineers with his boundless enthusiasm, sharp wit, and ability to make the most complex topics not only understandable but genuinely engaging. His background isn't purely academic; it's forged in the real world, having spent over two decades in consulting, founding his own IT company, and writing books for Cisco Press. This deep pool of practical experience is what sets his training apart. The 642-661 BGP exam was designed for professionals
The list of autonomous systems a route has traversed (preferring the shortest path). Origin: How the route was introduced into BGP.
Used to dictate the preferred exit point for an entire Autonomous System.
While exam codes change, the underlying mechanics of how autonomous systems exchange routing data across the globe have remained remarkably stable. Jeremy Cioara’s CBT Nuggets CCIP BGP (642-661) training acts as a masterclass in fundamental networking concepts. By combining his engaging conceptual breakdowns with modern hands-on lab practice, you can build a rock-solid understanding of BGP that will serve your networking career for decades to come.
Understanding the rule that prevents an IBGP router from forwarding routes learned from one IBGP peer to another IBGP peer, and how to solve the resulting full-mesh requirement. 3. Scaling Large BGP Networks
Tells routers within an AS which exit path is preferred. Highest wins. Originate: Locally originated routes take priority. AS_Path: The shortest path (fewest AS hops) wins.