Which components are part of EIGRP's default metric?

EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) uses a composite metric to determine the best route to a destination, and the default metric incorporates several key factors. Among these, delay, bandwidth, reliability, and load are part of the equation, but it's essential to focus on the components that make up EIGRP's default metric.

In the context of the question, delay is a crucial component of EIGRP’s default metric. It measures the time it takes for packets to traverse a link and is expressed in milliseconds. EIGRP captures delay by accounting for the link characteristics, allowing it to make informed decisions on the best paths. This metric is critical because it directly influences routing decisions, allowing EIGRP to favor routes with lower delays, which generally translates to better performance for end-users.

While other factors like reliability (which factors in the link's stability) and bandwidth (which indicates the maximum capacity of the link) are part of the overall EIGRP metric, when it comes to the default settings specifically, delay is explicitly included in the default calculation. By emphasizing delay among the factors in EIGRP, the protocol prioritizes quickness in packet transmission, which is essential for time-sensitive applications.