Re: BGP-4 changes

[[e-mail]]

*** Resending note of 09/05/96 20:42
Subject: Re: BGP-4 changes
Curtis,

I agree that BGP-savvy gurus (like yourself) might find application for
modification of MED values from neighbor ASs, so the "MAY" keyword in the
current proposed text is OK with me.  Flexibility can be rewarding in
unintended ways...

But we could solve the problem that you describe below by other means:
(1) by lowering your LOCAL_PREF value for routes using the hot link(s),
or (2) getting the neighbor AS to increase the MED values that it sends
to you.  Neither of these methods requires knowing the semantics of
metrics of neighboring ASs, nor modification of received MED values.

-- Richard Woundy, IBM

>I could see doing this if you are in agreement with whoever you are
>sending MED about what the MEDs mean.  For example, some big customer
>with more than one attachment might twiddle their OSPF metrics to get
>traffic tuned sort of right.  If one of the provider/customer
>attachments or provider links near it were running a bit hot and there
>was agreement to do so, the MEDs at one attachment point might be
>bumped up.  This could also apply to providers with multiple
>interconnections who are willing to shuffle a bit of traffic from one
>place to another to give both provider's customers better service.
>This sort of cooperation is definitely not unheard of.