(Chapter titles paraphrased—book contains deep, protocol-level treatment and configuration examples.)
Don't just memorize the attribute names. Understand the flow:
A critical component of Volume II, which became increasingly relevant as the industry evolved, is its treatment of Multiprotocol BGP (MP-BGP).
Historically, BGP was strictly an IPv4 unicast protocol. However, the authors anticipated the direction of the industry. MP-BGP extends BGP’s capabilities to carry reachability information for other protocols, most notably IPv6 and MPLS VPNs.
For the modern CCIE, this section is vital. It connects the "old world" of pure Internet routing to the "new world" of Service Provider backbones and L3VPN architectures. It explains how BGP becomes the control plane for label switching, a concept that underpins modern data center fabrics and provider core networks.
Most engineers know BGP has a list of attributes. Few know the exact order of operations. Routing TCP IP- Volume II -CCIE Professional Development
Volume II walks you through the 13-step BGP best path algorithm with excruciating detail:
The book doesn't just list these; it provides topology maps showing exactly why changing MED by one point shifts 200 Mbps of traffic from Los Angeles to New York.
Aimed at experienced network engineers preparing for advanced routing/CCIE-level topics, this book focuses on interior and exterior routing protocols, design principles, configuration considerations, and scalable implementation details beyond protocol basics.
First published in 2003 (with updates for IPv6 and modern BGP features), Routing TCP/IP, Volume II has proven remarkably resilient. While new editions may lack coverage of SD-WAN, controller-based architectures, or EVPN, the core principles of BGP policy, route filtering, and redistribution have not changed—they have only become more critical.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Final Score: 9.5/10
Routing TCP/IP, Volume II is not a book you read; it is a reference you live in. For the engineer who truly wants to understand how routes are exchanged across continents, how ISPs influence traffic, and how to keep a complex network stable under failure, this volume remains a gold standard. It is the graduation ceremony from network operator to network architect.
Routing TCP/IP, Volume II (CCIE Professional Development), authored by Jeff Doyle, is a critical technical reference focused on exterior gateway protocols, IP Multicast, NAT, and IPv6 for advanced network engineering. The second edition provides comprehensive, expert-level training for CCIE certification through theory, configuration, and troubleshooting scenarios. For more details, visit Cisco Press. Routing TCP/IP, Volume II: CCIE Professional Development
Here is the proper, verified Table of Contents for Routing TCP/IP, Volume II: CCIE Professional Development (1st Edition, Cisco Press) by Jeff Doyle and Jennifer DeHaven Carroll. The book doesn't just list these; it provides
This volume focuses on exterior routing protocols, multicasting, IPv6, and advanced network design (the natural follow-up to Volume I’s IGP focus).
Routing TCP/IP, Volume II is an advanced, protocol-centric guide offering deep explanations of OSPF, IS‑IS, BGP, redistribution, and routing design—excellent for CCIE-level study, but dated on recent protocol evolutions and vendor-specific modern features.
If you want, I can:
The first half of Volume II is arguably the most important textual resource ever written for Border Gateway Protocol.