What OSPF metric is used to determine the cost of a link?

The OSPF cost metric is the value used by the OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) protocol to evaluate and determine the most efficient path for routing traffic within its network. The cost is based on the bandwidth of the link: the higher the bandwidth, the lower the cost assigned to that link. By using this method, OSPF effectively prioritizes routes, allowing it to choose paths that increase overall network efficiency and performance.

When OSPF calculates the cost, it usually uses the formula that divides a reference bandwidth (default is 100 Mbps) by the interface bandwidth. Hence, a 1 Gbps link would have a cost of 0.1 (as it would be considered more efficient compared to a lower bandwidth link). This calculation is crucial for routing decisions as OSPF aims to find the shortest path, defined not purely in terms of hops but rather by evaluating link performance and quality, represented by the cost metric.