Advanced IP Network Design (CCIE Professional Development)

Case Study: Route Reflectors as Route Servers

Sometimes route reflectors are confused with route servers (and vice versa). Route servers are generally used at Internet exchange points. The objective is for routers to only peer with the route server (not all the other routers in the exchange) and obtain all the routing information from it. The route server has the capability of propagating information in a transparent fashion—as if the advertisements were received directly from the router originating it.

Route reflectors also try to reduce the number of peers needed in an iBGP cloud, whereas the route server is typically used with eBGP neighbors. The route server itself processes no traffic, whereas the route reflectors do. In fact, route reflectors ...