The "New" update. Modern CCIP and SP tracks require you to know how BGP carries more than just IPv4 routes. You will learn the address-family ipv6 and address-family vpnv4 syntax.
router bgp 65000
neighbor 192.0.2.2 remote-as 65001
neighbor 192.0.2.2 description EBGP-to-65001
network 203.0.113.0 mask 255.255.255.0
First and foremost, it is important to note that the 642-661 BGP exam was retired by Cisco many years ago (around 2010-2012).
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 Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional (CCIP) certification, or simply want to master inter-domain routing, you have likely encountered the infamous exam: 642-661 BGP. cbt nuggets cisco ccip bgp 642661 by jeremy cioara new
Passing this exam requires more than memorizing path attributes; it demands a deep, operational understanding of how BGP behaves in a service provider environment. For over a decade, IT professionals have turned to one source to bridge the gap between theory and reality: CBT Nuggets, and specifically, the legendary trainer Jeremy Cioara.
This article explores the newly updated CBT Nuggets Cisco CCIP BGP 642-661 course, why Jeremy Cioara’s teaching methodology changes the game, and how this training is still relevant for modern CCNP Service Provider and CCIE tracks. The "New" update
While CCIP 642-661 is retired (replaced by CCNP Service Provider and CCIE), Cioara’s principles apply directly to:
| Legacy Concept (642-661) | Modern Equivalent | Pedagogical Insight | |--------------------------|-------------------|----------------------| | BGP Weight | BGP Weight (still Cisco) | Local decision first | | Route Reflectors | BGP in EVPN/VXLAN | Reduce IBGP mesh | | AS-path filtering | BGP Flowspec / RPKI | Policy before prefix | First and foremost, it is important to note
Moreover, platforms like CML (Cisco Modeling Labs) or EVE-NG enable the same "failure-first" labs Cioara pioneered.
Before analyzing the course content, you must understand the instructor. Jeremy Cioara is not a typical technical trainer. He is a storyteller. While many instructors read slides, Jeremy draws on whiteboards, paces around the studio, and uses real-world analogies (often involving cars, highways, and mail carriers) to explain complex state machines.
Students consistently rate Jeremy as "the reason I passed." His energy is infectious. For a dry, specification-heavy protocol like BGP, this energy is a lifesaver. He treats the 642-661 material not as an exam hurdle, but as a puzzle to be solved.
To pass 642-661, you must master prefix-lists and route-maps.