What is an "address family"

Hi,

The address family concept is new in bgp. Can anyone explain what this family is?

It is not present in IGP.

Also what is the default setting for address-family ipv4 ?

Is it broadcast? This is because there are settings for multicast and unicast.

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networker050184

Address families basically break the configuration and management down per family of addresses. You may want different policy on your IPv6 routes as compared to your IPv4 or VPNv4.

Unicast is is the default in IOS. You wouldn't be routing broadcast though.

dsgm

I do recall address family in juniper configs, correct me if im wrong, its been awhile with juniper ( need to get back on it)

Dieg0M

dppagc wrote: »

Hi,

It is not present in IGP.

Address-families are also available in IGP in the case of OSPFv3 or in the case of vrf address-families for EIGRP for example.

networker050184

dsgm wrote: »

I do recall address family in juniper configs, correct me if im wrong, its been awhile with juniper ( need to get back on it)

DGP address families are available in JUNOS yes. IOS, NXOS, IOS-XR, IOS-XE as well.

theodoxa

EIGRP supports address families. All it really is...is a new way of configuring the routing protocol. It is supposed to make things easier and more logical, but personally it makes no more sense to me than the old way.

dppagc

networker050184 wrote: »

Address families basically break the configuration and management down per family of addresses. You may want different policy on your IPv6 routes as compared to your IPv4 or VPNv4.

Unicast is is the default in IOS. You wouldn't be routing broadcast though.

Hi do you mind giving an example of how different policy is applied?
I read on another site that address family is like RIB?
Is it true?

dppagc

I got the answer:

https://supportforums.cisco.com/discussion/11022501/purpose-address-family