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Configuring AS_Path Attributes for Routes

Configuring the AS-Path attribute can prevent loop in BGP. BGP checks the AS-Path attribute of the route sent from the peer. If the local AS number already exists, BGP ignores the route.

Procedure

  • Allow the local AS number to be repeated.

    BGP uses AS numbers to detect routing loops. In Hub and Spoke networking, if EBGP runs between a Hub-PE and a Hub-CE, the route sent from the Hub-PE to the Hub-CE carries the AS number of the Hub-PE. After the Hub-CE sends an Update message that contains the AS number of the Hub-PE to the Hub-PE, the Hub-PE will deny it.

    To ensure proper route transmission in Hub and Spoke networking, configure all the BGP peers on the path, along which the Hub-CE advertises private network routes to the Spoke-CE, to accept the routes in which the local AS number repeats once.

    1. Access the system view.

      system-view

    2. Access the BGP view.

      bgp { as-number-plain | as-number-dot }

    3. Access the BGP IPv4 unicast address family view.

      ipv4-family unicast

    4. Allow the local AS number to be repeated.

      peer { ipv4-address | group-name } allow-as-loop [ number ]

      Generally, a BGP device checks the AS_Path attribute of a route sent from a peer. If the local AS number already exists in the AS_Path attribute, BGP ignores this route to avoid a routing loop.

      In some special applications, you can use the peer allow-as-loop command to allow the AS_Path attributes of routes sent from the peers to contain the local AS number. You can also set the number of times the local AS number is repeated.

  • Configure the AS-Path not to serve as one of the route selection principles.
    1. Access the system view.

      system-view

    2. Access the BGP view.

      bgp { as-number-plain | as-number-dot }

    3. Access the BGP IPv4 unicast address family view.

      ipv4-family unicast

    4. Configure the AS-Path not to serve as one of the route selection principles.

      bestroute as-path-neglect

  • Set a fake AS number.

    Generally, a device supports only one BGP process. This means that a device supports only one AS number. If AS numbers need to be replaced during network migration, you can run the peer fake-as command to set a fake AS number for a specified peer to ensure smooth network migration.

    1. Access the system view.

      system-view

    2. Access the BGP view.

      bgp { as-number-plain | as-number-dot }

    3. Set a fake AS number.

      peer { ipv4-address | group-name } fake-as { as-number-plain | as-number-dot }

      The peer fake-as command can be used to hide the actual AS number of a BGP device. EBGP peers in other ASs will use the fake AS number of this BGP device to set up EBGP peer relationships with this device.

      This command applies to only EBGP peers.

  • Substitute the AS number in the AS-Path.

    If the configuration with the peer substitute-as command is not correct, the command may cause routing loops.

    1. Access the system view.

      system-view

    2. Access the BGP view.

      bgp { as-number-plain | as-number-dot }

    3. Access the Virtual Private Network (VPN) instance view.

      ipv4-family unicast vpn-instance vpn-instance-name

    4. Substitute the AS number in the AS-Path.

      peer { ipv4-address | group-name } substitute-as

      After this command is used, if the AS-Path contains the AS number of the peer, you can substitute the local AS number for the AS number of the peer before advertising the peer.

  • Configure the AS-Path to carry only the public AS number.
    1. Access the system view.

      system-view

    2. Access the BGP view.

      bgp { as-number-plain | as-number-dot }

    3. Access the BGP IPv4 unicast address family view.

      ipv4-family unicast

    4. Configure the AS-Path to carry only the public AS number.

      peer { ipv4-address | group-name } public-as-only

      In general, the number of the AS ranges from 1 to 65535. The number of the public AS ranges from 1 to 64511, and the number of the private AS ranges from 64512 to 65534. 65535 is used as the reserved AS number in certain circumstances.

      The number of the public AS can be used on the Internet, because Internet addresses are managed and assigned by the Internet Assigned Number Authority (IANA). The number of the private AS cannot be advertised to the Internet and is used only in the internal routing domain.

      BGP carries an AS number (either public or private) when it advertises routes. In certain cases, the number of the private AS does not need to be transmitted. You can then configure the AS-Path to carry only the public AS number with this command.

      This command applies to only EBGP peers.

  • Configure the maximum number of AS numbers in the AS_Path attribute.
    1. Access the system view.

      system-view

    2. Access the BGP view.

      bgp { as-number-plain | as-number-dot }

    3. Set the maximum number of AS numbers in the AS_Path attribute.

      as-path-limit as-path-limit-num

      By default, the maximum number of AS numbers in the AS_Path attribute is 255.

      After the as-path-limit command is configured, a router checks whether the number of AS numbers in the AS-Path attribute of the incoming route exceeds the maximum value. If the number of AS numbers exceeds the maximum value, the local router discards the route. Therefore, if the maximum number of AS numbers in the AS-Path attribute is set too small, routes are lost.

  • Disable the function of checking the first AS number in the AS_Path list that is carried in the Update message sent by the EBGP peer.
    1. Access the system view.

      system-view

    2. Access the BGP view.

      bgp { as-number-plain | as-number-dot }

    3. Disable the function of checking the first AS number in the AS_Path list that is carried in the Update message sent by the EBGP peer.

      undo check-first-as

      By default, BGP checks the first AS number in the AS_Path list that is carried in the Update message sent by the EBGP peer. If only the first AS number indicates the AS where the EBGP peer locates, the Update message is accepted. Otherwise, the Update message is denied, and the EBGP connection goes Down.

      After the undo check-first-as command is configured, there is a greater possibility of routing loops. Therefore, use the command with caution.

      After configurations are modified, you need to run the refresh bgp command.

Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
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