EIGRP to iBGP metric calculation

The question of how to calculate the metric of an EIGRP to IBGP connection is an important one for IT administrators. It is essential to understand the differences between the two protocols and the trade-offs involved in setting the metrics for a successful network configuration.

EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) is a distance vector routing protocol that is commonly used in small to medium-sized networks. It is a Cisco proprietary protocol, meaning that only Cisco devices can use it and it is not compatible with other vendors’ devices. EIGRP uses a metric based on bandwidth, delay, reliability, and load to determine the best path to a destination.

IBGP (Interior Border Gateway Protocol) is a link-state routing protocol that is used to interconnect networks within an autonomous system. It is based on the Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) protocol and is used primarily in large networks. It uses metrics such as cost, hop count, and path length to determine the best path to a destination.

The metric used for the connection between an EIGRP and an IBGP network depends on the situation. In most cases, the metrics are set to be equal, meaning that the same metrics are used for both networks. This ensures that the path between the two networks is as efficient as possible.

However, in some cases, it may be necessary to set different metrics for the two networks. For example, if the EIGRP network has higher reliability than the IBGP network, it may be beneficial to set the EIGRP metric higher than the IBGP metric. This will ensure that the more reliable network is preferred by the routing protocol.

The method of calculation for the metrics depends on the type of network. For EIGRP, the metric is calculated using the composite metric formula, which takes into account the bandwidth, delay, reliability, and load values of the link. For IBGP, the metric is calculated using the hop count method, which takes into account the number of hops between the two networks.

Once the metrics have been calculated, they can be set in the configuration of the routing protocol. It is important to remember that the metrics should be set to the same values between the two networks in order to ensure optimal performance.

In summary, the metrics for an EIGRP to IBGP connection must be carefully calculated in order to ensure the best possible performance. The metrics should be set to the same values between the two networks in order to ensure optimal performance. The metric for EIGRP is calculated using the composite metric formula and for IBGP the metric is calculated using the hop count method. It is important to understand the differences between the two protocols and the trade-offs involved in setting the metrics for a successful network configuration.