what IOS should be choose when implementing BGP on 2500/2600s

[9gporter]

We are in the process of converting our wan protocol to BGP. Our "spoke" centers are running Cisco 2500/2600s and in some cases 4700s. What is the most suitable version of the IOS that we should use? thanks.

[svermill]

For the lower end routers such as 2500/2600, you will probably need to run, at a minimum, an IP Plus feature pack. The stander IP pack does not support BGP. The challenge sometimes is that the latest and greatest release might require more memory than your router has. You just need to balance all of your requirements against your available hardware resources. The Software Center can help:

http://www.cisco.com/kobayashi/sw-center/sw-ios.shtml

[dyuan]

You can also use the Cisco Feature Navigator tool to help you identify the IOS software version.

http://www.cisco.com/go/fn

[svermill]

Actually you can't. The feature navigator requires that you specify the feature pack. So you select "BGP" as and option. Then you have to tell it whether or not you want, say, IP or IP Plus. If you enter IP, it lists all of the IP releases that support BGP (basically anything within the last few years). What it doesn't tell you is that for a 2500 you would need IP Plus rather than just IP. So in that regard, it isn't much of a feature navigator. It has been brought to the attention of Cisco recently. Hopefully they will make an improvement.