BGP's ORIGIN attribute lets ASes steer internet traffic

The article explores the significance of the ORIGIN attribute in the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), the main routing protocol of the Internet. It details how the ORIGIN attribute indicates how a route was injected into BGP and highlights its three possible values: IGP (Interior Gateway Protocol), EGP (Exterior Gateway Protocol), and INCOMPLETE. It notes that about 89.8% of valid BGP announcements use IGP.

The manipulation of the ORIGIN attribute by Autonomous Systems (ASes) to influence traffic routing is discussed, illustrating the potential impacts on path selection and traffic flow. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding these attributes for effective network management and security.