Instead of static PowerPoint slides, concepts are drawn out in real time, mimicking a live engineering design session.
No. Cisco retired the CCIP certification on October 29, 2012. The 642-661 BGP exam was discontinued in July 2012.
The webpage mentioned that the course was taught by Jeremy Cioara, a well-known instructor in the networking community. John had heard great things about Jeremy's teaching style and expertise.
BGP is notoriously intimidating because it behaves differently from Interior Gateway Protocols (IGPs) like OSPF or EIGRP. It is a path-vector protocol that prioritizes policy and business agreements over simple speed or hop count. Cioara deconstructs this by treating BGP not as a software configuration, but as a postal system or a series of corporate negotiations, ensuring students grasp the why before diving into the how . 2. Visual Whiteboard Mechanics cbt nuggets cisco ccip bgp 642661 by jeremy cioara new
In the world of networking, few protocols inspire as much respect—and a little fear—as the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). BGP is the glue that holds the internet together. It is the protocol that allows Autonomous Systems (ASes) like Google, Amazon, and your local ISP to talk to one another. If you are pursuing the certification, or simply want to master inter-domain routing, you have likely encountered the infamous exam: 642-661 BGP.
: While internal networks process thousands of routes, BGP is designed to handle global internet routing tables scaling into hundreds of thousands of routes.
Moving beyond traditional distance-vector or link-state logic to route based on path attributes and policies. Instead of static PowerPoint slides, concepts are drawn
For learners who prefer an up-to-date course aligned with current Cisco exams, these newer series are excellent choices. But for anyone who wants to truly understand BGP from the ground up—not just pass a test—the classic CCIP 642-661 series remains a gold standard.
For network engineers aiming to master the intricacies of the internet's fundamental routing protocol, few training resources carry the legendary status of . This course represents a defining masterclass in core service provider infrastructure, crafted by one of the industry's most respected educators.
Cioara’s credentials speak for themselves. He holds an impressive list of certifications, including CCNA, CCDA, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CCNP, CCSP, CCVP, CCDP, and the prestigious . Beyond Cisco, he’s certified in AWS, Microsoft, Novell, and CompTIA technologies. The 642-661 BGP exam was discontinued in July 2012
BGP does not simply look at hop count or bandwidth. It evaluates a strict hierarchy of attributes. Cioara dedicates significant time to mastering: Cisco-proprietary, local to the router.
Eliminating the strict iBGP full-mesh requirement to scale internal networks safely.
While modern networking has moved toward software-defined WAN (SD-WAN), BGP remains the cornerstone of internet routing. Even though the 642-661 exam is long retired, the technical knowledge imparted by Jeremy in this series is still highly applicable to current CCNP Service Provider or advanced enterprise roles. It is commonly recommended for those needing a "no-fat," straight-to-the-point explanation of BGP. Conclusion
Tasks with managing multi-homed corporate internet connections.
Jeremy doesn’t just teach for the exam; he teaches for the job. He often frames BGP configuration within the context of a service provider environment, explaining the "why" behind the "what".