BSD Distributions & High-Security/Storage Networking
OpenBGPd Performance Tuning
OpenBGPd is a compact BGP daemon that handles full internet tables with modest resources. Tuning focuses on memory layout, filter efficiency, and session stability rather than raw CPU. For edge routers on OpenBSD, careful policy design matters more than any single sysctl.
Key points
- Filter inbound announcements aggressively so the RIB holds only usable routes.
- Use prefix lists and AS path filters compiled into efficient rule sets.
- Size memory for the full table plus headroom, and monitor RIB growth over time.
- Tune socket buffers and hold timers against your upstream's behavior.
- Enable graceful restart only when peers support it and you can tolerate the semantics.
- Monitor session flaps and log prefix changes for incident correlation.
- Keep configurations in version control and validate before reload.
- Test convergence after a peer failure rather than assuming failover works.
Frequently asked questions
Can OpenBGPd handle a full table?
Yes on modest hardware, provided filters and memory are sized correctly.
Does it support BGPsec or RPKI?
RPKI validation is supported through the appropriate tooling; check your version's feature set.
Why do sessions flap?
Often MTU, timer, or firewall issues rather than daemon bugs.
How do I reduce memory use?
Reject unusable prefixes at the edge and avoid retaining unnecessary path attributes.
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