4 Best-Selling EIGRP Books Millions Trust

Discover top EIGRP books written by authorities such as Alvaro Retana, Ivan Pepelnjak, and Gerardus Blokdyk, offering proven, best-selling approaches

Updated on June 28, 2025
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When millions of readers and top experts agree on a set of books, it signals a wealth of practical wisdom worth your attention. EIGRP remains a cornerstone routing protocol in many enterprise networks, making reliable knowledge essential for network professionals today. These four best-selling books offer a window into EIGRP’s core operation, design strategies, and evolving practices that continue to shape how networks run efficiently.

The authors behind these works bring deep, hands-on expertise. Alvaro Retana, a Cisco Technical Leader directly involved in routing protocol development, shares foundational concepts in "EIGRP for IP." Ivan Pepelnjak, a seasoned CCIE and network architect, delivers nuanced design and deployment insights in "EIGRP Network Design Solutions." Gerardus Blokdyk’s strategic approach in "EIGRP Second Edition" challenges readers to think critically about their implementations. Meanwhile, James Aweya’s "IP Routing Protocols" situates EIGRP within the broader context of modern routing.

While these popular books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific EIGRP needs might consider creating a personalized EIGRP book that combines these validated approaches into a customized learning path. This ensures a focus on your unique skill level, network environment, and learning objectives.

Best for mastering core EIGRP concepts
Alvaro Retana, a Technical Leader in Cisco Systems' Core IP Engineering Department and CCIE #1609, brings his extensive hands-on expertise to this guide. His work on routing protocols such as EIGRP, OSPF, and BGP4 directly informs the practical insights found here. As an adjunct professor at Duke University, he combines academic rigor with real-world experience to clarify EIGRP’s fundamental operation and configuration, making this book a solid foundation for anyone working with Cisco routing technologies.
EIGRP for IP: Basic Operation and Configuration (The Addison-Wesley Networking Basics Series) book cover

by Alvaro Retana, Russ White, Don Slice··You?

2000·144 pages·EIGRP, Networking, Routing Protocols, Network Design, IP Networking

What makes this book both expert-recommended and reader-beloved is Alvaro Retana's direct experience as a Technical Leader at Cisco Systems, where he helped develop and test core routing protocols including EIGRP. Here, you’ll gain a clear understanding of EIGRP’s fundamental concepts, terminology, and operational mechanisms specifically applied to IP networks. The book guides you through network design challenges common to EIGRP setups, with practical tips grounded in real engineering practice. This focused approach benefits network engineers and students seeking to master EIGRP basics without unnecessary complexity.

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Best for designing scalable EIGRP networks
Ivan Pepelnjak, CCIE #1354 and Executive Director of NIL's technical division, leverages over 10 years of experience managing large networks using EIGRP. His expertise shines through in this book, which is rooted in his work designing and troubleshooting complex EIGRP deployments across enterprise and service provider environments. Pepelnjak’s role in creating advanced IP routing courses further underscores the practical depth he offers, making this a go-to resource for engineers seeking to master EIGRP design and operation.
2000·366 pages·EIGRP, Networking, Routing Protocols, Network Design, Cisco IOS

Ivan Pepelnjak, a CCIE #1354 and Executive Director at NIL, brings over a decade of hands-on experience designing and managing extensive networks using EIGRP. In this book, you gain a detailed understanding of EIGRP's underlying theory, practical design considerations, and real-world configuration on Cisco IOS routers. Pepelnjak doesn’t just cover basics; he dives into troubleshooting and provides case studies illustrating hierarchical, meshed, and dial-up network scenarios. If you're tasked with deploying or maintaining EIGRP in enterprise or service provider environments, this book equips you with the know-how to build efficient, reliable networks and avoid common pitfalls.

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Best for custom learning paths
This AI-created book on EIGRP fundamentals is tailored to your background and experience level. By sharing what aspects of EIGRP you want to focus on and your current skills, the book is crafted to address your unique learning goals. This personalized approach makes mastering EIGRP more efficient, as it concentrates on the topics you find most relevant and important for your network success.
2025·50-300 pages·EIGRP, Routing Protocols, EIGRP Fundamentals, Metric Calculations, Neighbor Discovery

This tailored book explores the core fundamentals and operations of EIGRP, offering a focused journey through this pivotal routing protocol. It examines EIGRP’s mechanisms, metric calculations, neighbor relationships, and convergence processes with precision. By addressing your specific background and goals, this personalized guide emphasizes the practical understanding required to master EIGRP within your unique network context. Your learning experience is enriched as the book matches your interests, enabling you to delve deeply into topics most relevant to your development as a network professional. From foundational concepts to advanced operational details, this book reveals how EIGRP maintains efficient routing and adapts to evolving network conditions. It provides a clear, tailored pathway ensuring you gain a confident command of essential EIGRP techniques and troubleshooting approaches.

Tailored Guide
EIGRP Operations
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Best for strategic EIGRP process improvement
Gerardus Blokdyk is a recognized expert in EIGRP and process management, known for empowering professionals through self-assessment tools. His extensive work helps organizations design effective strategies to tackle EIGRP challenges by encouraging critical questioning and strategic thinking. This book reflects his commitment to helping you lead your network projects with clarity and purpose, making complex routing protocols more approachable and manageable.
EIGRP Second Edition book cover

by Gerardus Blokdyk··You?

2022·302 pages·EIGRP, Networking, Strategy, Process Management, Self-Assessment

Gerardus Blokdyk challenges the conventional approach to EIGRP by focusing on the power of asking the right questions rather than just presenting technical commands. This book guides you through a self-assessment process that helps uncover hidden challenges in your EIGRP implementations, emphasizing strategic thinking over rote memorization. You learn to diagnose projects, align strategies with goals, and integrate recent advances in EIGRP and process design. Whether you're a manager, consultant, or network engineer looking to deepen your understanding and improve your organization's routing strategies, this book equips you with tools to lead smarter decisions.

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Best for understanding EIGRP within routing protocols
James Aweya, PhD, is a chief research scientist at the Etisalat British Telecom Innovation Center (EBTIC) and a senior IEEE member. His expertise in telecommunications and network research underpins this book, which reflects his commitment to clarifying complex IP routing protocols for professionals. Drawing from his background at Khalifa University and extensive authorship, Aweya provides a precise yet accessible look at OSPF, IS-IS, and BGP, making this work a solid reference for anyone serious about mastering routing in modern networks.
IP Routing Protocols (Ip Routing Protocols, 2) book cover

by James Aweya··You?

James Aweya, PhD, draws on his extensive experience as a chief research scientist to bridge the gap between routing theory and practical application in this detailed exploration of link-state and path-vector protocols. You’ll gain deep insights into OSPF area types, IS-IS hierarchical routing, and BGP session states, with clear explanations of packet types and routing metrics that clarify complex networking concepts. The book’s real-world examples and focus on current best practices make it especially useful if you’re involved in network design or troubleshooting large-scale IP infrastructures. While it’s technical, the way Aweya connects theory with practice means you don’t have to guess how these protocols operate in live environments.

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Conclusion

Together, these four books offer a broad yet focused spectrum of EIGRP knowledge—from fundamental operations and configuration to strategic design and process evaluation. They reflect widely validated frameworks trusted by network professionals worldwide.

If you prefer proven methods grounded in real-world Cisco engineering, start with "EIGRP for IP" and "EIGRP Network Design Solutions." For those drawn to strategic thinking and continuous improvement, "EIGRP Second Edition" provides a thoughtful approach. Meanwhile, "IP Routing Protocols" adds valuable context by exploring EIGRP alongside other key routing protocols.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized EIGRP book to combine proven methods with your unique needs. These widely-adopted approaches have helped many readers succeed in mastering EIGRP and optimizing network performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with "EIGRP for IP" by Alvaro Retana if you want a clear introduction to core EIGRP concepts. It lays a solid foundation before moving to more advanced design or strategic topics.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to EIGRP?

Not at all. "EIGRP for IP" offers accessible explanations ideal for beginners, while the others build on that knowledge for more experienced professionals.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with "EIGRP for IP" to grasp basics, then "EIGRP Network Design Solutions" for deployment insights. Follow with "EIGRP Second Edition" for strategy, and "IP Routing Protocols" to see EIGRP in a broader routing context.

Do these books focus more on theory or practical application?

They balance both. For example, "EIGRP Network Design Solutions" emphasizes real-world design and troubleshooting, while "EIGRP Second Edition" encourages strategic thinking alongside technical details.

Are any of these books outdated given how fast EIGRP changes?

While EIGRP evolves, these books focus on fundamental principles and proven strategies that remain relevant, especially for Cisco network environments.

Can I get EIGRP knowledge tailored to my specific needs?

Yes. While these books provide trusted frameworks, you can create a personalized EIGRP book that combines expert methods with your unique skills and goals for targeted learning.

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