Preference

Preference is the value GateD uses to order preference of routes from one protocol or peer over another. Preference can be set in the GateD configuration files in several different configuration statements. Preference can be set based on network interface over another, from one protocol over another, or from one remote gateway over another. Preference may not be used to control the selection of routes within an igp, this is accomplished automatically by the protocol based on metric. Preference may be used to select routes from the same egp learned from different peers or autonomous systems. Each route has only one preference value associated with it, even though preference can be set at many places in the configuration file. Simply, the last or most specific preference value set for a route is the value used. (See Glossary: Preference.) The preference value is an arbitrarily assigned value used to determine the order of routes to the same destination in a single routing database. The active route is chosen by the lowest preference value. Some protocols implement a second preference (preference2), sometimes refered to as a tie-breaker.

Selecting a route

• The route with the best (numerically smallest) preference is prefered.
• If the two routes have the same preference, the route with the best (numerically smallest) preference2 (also known as a tie-breaker) is prefered.
• A route learned from a igp is prefered to a route learned from an egp. Least prefered is a route learned indirectly by an igp from an egp.
• If AS path information is available it is used to help determine the most prefered route.
  • A route with an AS path is prefered over one without and AS path
  • If the AS paths and origins are identical, the route with the lower metric is prefered.
  • A route with an AS path origin of igp is prefered over a route with an AS path origin of egp. Least prefered is an AS path with an unknown origin.
  • A route with a shorter AS path is prefered.
• If both routes are from the same protocol and AS, the one with the lowest metric is prefered.
• The route with the lowest numeric next-hop address is used.

Assigning preferences

A default preference is assigned to each source from which GateD receives routes. Preference values range from 0 to 255 with the lowest number indicating the most preferred route.

The following table summarizes the default preference values for routes learned in various ways. The table lists the statements (some of these are clauses within statements) that set preference, and shows the types of routes to which each statement applies. The default preference for each type of route is listed, and the table notes preference precedence between protocols. The narrower the scope of the statement, the higher precedence its preference value is given, but the smaller the set of routes it affects.

  Preference Of                  Defined by Statement  Default 
  direct connnected networks           interface            0
  OSPF routes                          ospf                10
  IS-IS level 1 routes                 isis level 1        15
  IS-IS level 2 routes                 isis level 2        18
  internally generated default         gendefault          20
  redirects                            redirect            30
  routes learned via route socket      kernel              40
  static routes from config            static              60
  ANS SPF (SLSP) routes                slsp                70
  HELLO routes                         hello               90
  RIP routes                           rip                100
  point-to-point interface                                110
  routes to interfaces that are down   interfaces         120
  aggregate/generate routes            aggregate/generate 130
  OSPF AS external routes              ospf               150
  BGP routes                           bgp                170
  EGP                                  egp                200

Sample Preference Specifications

    interfaces {
	    interface 138.66.12.2 preference 10 ;
    } ;
    rip yes {
	preference 90 ;
    } ;
    import proto rip gateway 138.66.12.1 preference 75 ;

In these statements the preference applicable to routes learned via RIP from gateway 138.66.12.1 is 75. The last preference applicable to routes learned via RIP from gateway 128.66.12.1 is defined in the accept statement. The preference applicable to other RIP routes is found in the rip statement. The preference set on the interface statement applies only to the route to that interface.