Description

EIBGP multipath policy is not enforced when 'bgp multipath allow-external-internal prefix-policy’ term is deleted or deactivated. 

Summary of the issue:

# when policy statement is deleted/deactivated, we need to reset BGP peer for policy to take effect.

# When policy statement is added/activated, there is no need to reset BGP peer for policy to take effect.

Symptoms

EIBGP multipath policy is not enforced when 'bgp multipath allow-external-internal prefix-policy’ term is deleted or deactivated. 

Summary of the issue:

# when policy statement is deleted/deactivated, we need to reset BGP peer for policy to take effect.

# When policy statement is added/activated, there is no need to reset BGP peer for policy to take effect.

 

Config:

user@router> show configuration protocols bgp | display set

set protocols bgp group IBGP type internal

set protocols bgp group IBGP local-address 10.1.1.1

set protocols bgp group IBGP family inet unicast

set protocols bgp group IBGP neighbor 10.2.2.2

set protocols bgp group EBGP type external

set protocols bgp group EBGP neighbor 10.0.13.2 peer-as 65002

set protocols bgp multipath allow-external-internal prefix-policy Multipath-Routes

 

user@router> show configuration policy-options policy-statement Multipath-Routes | display set

set policy-options policy-statement Multipath-Routes term ALLOW from community Multipath-Tag

set policy-options policy-statement Multipath-Routes term ALLOW then accept

set policy-options policy-statement Multipath-Routes term REJECT-REST then reject

 

 

Route in normal state:

user@router> show route 10.30.30.30

inet.0: 16 destinations, 25 routes (16 active, 0 holddown, 0 hidden)

+ = Active Route, - = Last Active, * = Both

 

10.30.30.30/32 *[BGP/170] 00:05:59, localpref 100, from 10.0.13.2

      AS path: 65002 I, validation-state: unverified

     > to 10.0.12.2 via xe-0/1/0.0

      to 10.0.13.2 via xe-0/1/1.0

     [BGP/170] 00:05:59, localpref 100, from 10.2.2.2

      AS path: 65002 I, validation-state: unverified

     > to 10.0.12.2 via xe-0/1/0.0

 

 

 

 

Route when multiparty policy removed/deactivated:

[edit]

user@router# show | compare

[edit policy-options policy-statement Multipath-Routes]

! inactive: term ALLOW { ... }

 

[edit]

user@router# commit

commit complete

 

 

 

user@router> show route 10.30.30.30    

 

inet.0: 16 destinations, 25 routes (16 active, 0 holddown, 0 hidden)

+ = Active Route, - = Last Active, * = Both

 

10.30.30.30/32 *[BGP/170] 00:06:23, localpref 100, from 10.0.13.2

      AS path: 65002 I, validation-state: unverified

     > to 10.0.12.2 via xe-0/1/0.0

      to 10.0.13.2 via xe-0/1/1.0

     [BGP/170] 00:06:23, localpref 100, from 10.2.2.2

      AS path: 65002 I, validation-state: unverified

     > to 10.0.12.2 via xe-0/1/0.0

 

After clearing BGP:

user@router> clear bgp neighbor all 

Cleared 2 connections

 

user@router> show route 10.30.30.30 

 

inet.0: 16 destinations, 25 routes (16 active, 0 holddown, 0 hidden)

+ = Active Route, - = Last Active, * = Both

 

10.30.30.30/32 *[BGP/170] 00:00:01, localpref 100

      AS path: 65002 I, validation-state: unverified

     > to 10.0.13.2 via xe-0/1/1.0

     [BGP/170] 00:00:01, localpref 100, from 10.2.2.2

      AS path: 65002 I, validation-state: unverified

     > to 10.0.12.2 via xe-0/1/0.0

 

 

 

 

Route when BGP multiparty policy added/activated:

[edit]

user@router# show | compare

[edit policy-options policy-statement <policy-name>]

! active: term ALLOW { ... }

 

[edit]

user@router# commit

commit complete

 

[edit]

user@router# exit

Exiting configuration mode

 

user@router> show route 10.30.30.30 

 

inet.0: 16 destinations, 25 routes (16 active, 0 holddown, 0 hidden)

+ = Active Route, - = Last Active, * = Both

 

10.30.30.30/32 *[BGP/170] 00:00:05, localpref 100, from 10.0.13.2

      AS path: 65002 I, validation-state: unverified

     > to 10.0.12.2 via xe-0/1/0.0

      to 10.0.13.2 via xe-0/1/1.0

     [BGP/170] 00:00:48, localpref 100, from 10.2.2.2

      AS path: 65002 I, validation-state: unverified

     > to 10.0.12.2 via xe-0/1/0.0

Solution

All platforms are affected/common rpd code... Impact is routes not evaluated after EIBGP policy changes... might need a clear bgp neighbor for policy to be evaluated. Workaround is "clear bgp neighbor”. Issue is addressed in PR1954341.

Modification History

2026-07-08 : Article Created