HP 5500 EI series, Configuration Manual, Page: 186 / 424

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BGP path attributes
BGP uses the following path attributes in update messages for route filtering and selection:
• ORIGIN
The ORIGIN attribute specifies the origin of BGP routes. This attribute has the following types:
{
IGP —Has the highest priority. Routes generated in the local AS have the IGP attribute.
{
EGP —Has the second highest priority. Routes obtained through EGP have the EGP attribute.
{
INCOMPLETE —Has the lowest priority. The source of routes with this attribute is unknown.
Routes redistributed from other routing protocols have the INCOMPLETE attribute.
•
AS_PATH
The AS_PATH attribute identifies the ASs through which a route has passed. Before advertising a
route to another AS, BGP adds the local AS number into the AS_PATH attribute, so the receiver can
determine ASs to route the message back.
The AS_PATH attribute has the following types:
{
AS_SEQUENCE —Arranges AS numbers in sequence. As shown in Figure 47 , the number of the
AS closest to the receiver's AS is leftmost.
{
AS_SET —Arranges AS numbers randomly.
Figure 47 AS_PATH attribute
BGP uses the AS_PATH attribute to implement the following functions:
{
Avoid routing loops —A BGP router does not receive routes containing the local AS number to
avoid routing loops.
{
Affect route selection —BGP gives priority to the route with the shortest AS_PATH length if other
factors are the same. As shown in Figure 47 , the BGP router in AS 50 gives priority to the route
passing AS40 for sending data to the destination 8.0.0.0. In some applications, you can apply
a routing policy to control BGP route selection by modifying the AS_PATH length. For more
information about routing policy, see "Configuring routing policies."