neighbor [ip] description [text]
Documents a BGP neighbor with a descriptive label visible in show commands.
neighbor <ip-address> description <text>When to Use This Command
- Identifying ISP peers with carrier name and circuit ID.
- Labeling iBGP peers with their hostname or role.
- Adding change-management context to production router configs.
- Making large BGP configs readable when auditing configurations.
Command Examples
Add description to an ISP eBGP peer
R1(config)# router bgp 65001
R1(config-router)# neighbor 203.0.113.1 description ISP-Acme-Circuit-A123R1(config-router)#
No output. The description string is stored with the neighbor entry.
View description in neighbor summary
R1# show ip bgp neighbors 203.0.113.1 | include DescriptionDescription: ISP-Acme-Circuit-A123
The description appears in 'show ip bgp neighbors' output. It has no effect on BGP operation.
Understanding the Output
No operational effect — purely informational. Visible in 'show ip bgp neighbors [ip]' under the Description field and in 'show running-config'. Best practice on all BGP peers in production environments.
CCNA Exam Tips
CCNA exam tip: The description command exists for interfaces AND BGP neighbors — same concept, different context.
CCNA exam tip: Descriptions appear in show commands but have zero impact on BGP behavior.
CCNA exam tip: Good exam configs include descriptions; a question may ask you to 'identify the ISP peer' — look for the description.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Confusing 'neighbor description' with the interface 'description' command — the syntax is identical but context differs.
Mistake 2: Leaving descriptions blank in production — not a technical mistake but poor operational practice.
Mistake 3: Using the description as a substitute for documentation — it supplements config management, not replaces it.
Related Commands
neighbor [ip] remote-as [asn]
Defines a BGP neighbor (peer) by specifying its IP address and AS number. If the remote AS matches the local AS, this creates an iBGP session; if different, it creates an eBGP session.
router bgp [asn]
Enters BGP router configuration mode and creates a BGP process with the specified autonomous system (AS) number. This is the first command required to configure BGP on a Cisco router.
show ip bgp summary
Displays a summary of the BGP neighbor status and prefix counts, used to quickly verify BGP peering and routing table health.
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