When using the EIGRP metric, what value does bandwidth typically hold?

In EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol), the metric used to determine the best path to a destination is based on several factors, with bandwidth being a significant component. The value that bandwidth typically holds in the EIGRP metric is the highest interface bandwidth among all the interfaces involved in the route calculation.

This approach makes sense because EIGRP aims to select the path that provides the best possible performance and utilizes the most capable connection available. By using the highest interface bandwidth, EIGRP ensures that it favors routes with better throughput potential, which usually translates to faster data transfer and more efficient use of the network resources.

The other options consider different bandwidth values that do not align with the EIGRP metric calculations. For instance, using the lowest interface bandwidth would lead to suboptimal path selection, as it would favor slower paths over faster ones. Average interface bandwidth could also misrepresent the actual capabilities of the links in use, leading to less efficient routing. Finally, maximum configured bandwidth might not accurately represent the real-time conditions of the network links, which could mislead the routing decisions. Thus, the use of the highest interface bandwidth in EIGRP is critical for ensuring optimal routing decisions.