Vultr Configuring BGP with BIRD on Ubuntu 18.04

Vultr's BGP feature allows you to bring your own IP space and use it across any of our locations

Requirements

In order to use BGP, you would need your own IP space (either ipv4 or ipv6). If you have your own ASN, you can use that or we can assign a private one.

Please complete the bgp setup form to begin. Ensure you verify ownership of your ASN and subnet(s) to prevent delays.

The form with the following information:

• Your IP ranges ( Require)
• Your ASN (if you have one)
• An LOA for your IP ranges (only if you don't have your own ASN)

Once BGP has been configured on your account, you can proceed with configuring BGP.

BGP Setup

Note: If you're going to be configuring an instance that was deployed before BGP was setup on your account, you will need to reboot it via the control panel. BGP will not work on any existing instances until they've been rebooted (rebooting via SSH is not sufficient).

Our examples are going to assume the following

• ASN: 64512
• Instance's IPv4 address: 203.0.113.123
• Instance's IPv6 address: 2001:DB8:1000::1/64
• Instance's interface : ens3
• IPv6 Block: 2001:0db8::/32
• BGP Password: hunter2

We recommend using BIRD as your BGP daemon (but, you can use any BGP daemon you want). Most operating systems have a package available for this.

Install BIRD as BGP daemon

On Ubuntu. Bird package is bird-bgp

sudo apt update && apt install bird-bgp -y

config files will locate in /etc/bird with /etc/bird/bird6.conf for ipv6 and /etc/bird/bird.conf for ipv4

In this example, I will configure with ipv6 block. Adjust the example configuration below as required and write to /etc/bird/bird6.conf

router id 203.0.113.123;

filter out_filter {
    if net = 2001:0db8::/32 then accept;
    else reject;
}

protocol bgp vultr
{
        local as 64654;
        source address 2001:DB8:1000::1/64;
        import all;
        export filter out_filter;
        graceful restart on;
        multihop 2;
        neighbor 2001:19f0:ffff::1 as 64515;
        password "hunter2";
}

protocol static
{
    route 2001:0db8::/32 via 2001:DB8:1000::1/64;
}

protocol device
{
    scan time 5;
}

Tip: You can gen this config by going to "Server Details". In tab BGP. You will see config sample for real infomation

Restart bird daemon

sudo systemctl restart bird6

Verify BGP Session

sudo birdc6 show proto all vultr


BIRD 1.6.3 ready.
name     proto    table    state  since       info
vultr    BGP      master   up     2020-01-31  Established   
  Preference:     100
  Input filter:   ACCEPT
  Output filter:  out_filter
  Routes:         0 imported, 1 exported, 0 preferred
  Route change stats:     received   rejected   filtered    ignored   accepted
    Import updates:              0          0          0          0          0
    Import withdraws:            0          0        ---          0          0
    Export updates:              1          0          0        ---          1
    Export withdraws:            0        ---        ---        ---          0
  BGP state:          Established
    Neighbor address: 2001:19f0:ffff::1
    Neighbor AS:      64515
    Neighbor ID:      108.61.113.30
    Neighbor caps:    refresh restart-aware AS4 add-path-rx
    Session:          external multihop AS4
    Source address:   2001:DB8:1000::1/64
    Hold timer:       168/180
    Keepalive timer:  23/60

A BGP state of 'Established' means that everything is working properly

Note: You will also need to open TCP/179 port on your firewall

Configuring IPs

Now you can add any of your ipv6

sudo /sbin/ifconfig ens3 inet6 add 2001:db8:b9af:a224:d0f3:31c:7a57:7c15/64

Notes: You can subdivide the subnet into multiple instances and repeat the above steps for each of your instances. Note replace the new ipv6 block