The goal of negative testing is to produce network stabiity and proper routing when errors are observed. This presentation will provide techniques for negative testing of BGP to ensure that BGP-speaking devices in the network can handle error conditions that may occur. The network operator is introduced to the concept of negative testing and the benefits it provides to operational networks. Recommendations for BGP negative testing are then provided covering the following topics:

• Handling of BGP Configuration Errors
• Responding to BGP Update Message Errors
• BGP Convergence Due to Unplanned Network Failures
• Next Hop Selection Due to BGP/IGP interaction
• BGP Route Selection Criteria

Scott Poretsky is currently Software Quality Assurance Manager at Quarry Technologies. Prior to this, he spent six years at Avici Systems as Manager of Product Verification. Scott has been an active contributor to the IETF's Benchmarking Methodology Working Group, where he has co-authored numerous Internet Drafts. Scott earned an MSEE from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a BSEE from the University of Vermont.