BLADEOS 6.5.2 Application Guide

BGP Attributes

The following two BGP attributes are discussed in this section: Local preference and metric (Multi-Exit Discriminator).

Local Preference Attribute

When there are multiple paths to the same destination, the local preference attribute indicates the preferred path. The path with the higher preference is preferred (the default value of the local preference attribute is 100). Unlike the weight attribute, which is only relevant to the local router, the local preference attribute is part of the routing update and is exchanged among routers in the same AS.

The local preference attribute can be set in one of two ways:

￿The following commands use the BGP default local preference method, affecting the outbound direction only.

>># router bgp

>>(config_router_bgp)# local-preference

>>(config_router_bgp)# exit

￿The following commands use the route map local preference method, which affects both inbound and outbound directions.

>># route-map 1

>>(config_route_map)# local-preference

>>(config_router_map)# exit

Metric (Multi-Exit Discriminator) Attribute

This attribute is a hint to external neighbors about the preferred path into an AS when there are multiple entry points. A lower metric value is preferred over a higher metric value. The default value of the metric attribute is 0.

Unlike local preference, the metric attribute is exchanged between ASs; however, a metric attribute that comes into an AS does not leave the AS.

When an update enters the AS with a certain metric value, that value is used for decision making within the AS. When BGP sends that update to another AS, the metric is reset to 0.

Unless otherwise specified, the router compares metric attributes for paths from external neighbors that are in the same AS.

266 ￿ Chapter 19: Border Gateway Protocol

BMD00220, October 2010

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Blade ICE G8124-E manual BGP Attributes, Local Preference Attribute, Metric Multi-Exit Discriminator Attribute

G8124-E, G8124 specifications

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