Real-world CLI verification commands for EIGRP path tuning and load balancing: variance activation, share-count verification, offset-list behavior (inbound and outbound), and maximum-path confirmation. Use this checklist during lab work or production change windows.
| Command | Expected Output (Healthy) | Failure Indicator |
|---|---|---|
show ip route 10.1.10.0 |
Routing entry for 10.1.10.0/24
Known via "eigrp 1234", distance 90, metric 158720, type internal
Redistributing via eigrp 1234
Last update from 10.1.12.2 on GigabitEthernet0/1, 00:15:23 ago
Routing Descriptor Blocks:
* 10.1.12.2, from 10.1.12.2, 00:15:23 ago, via GigabitEthernet0/1
Route metric is 158720, traffic share count is 2
10.1.13.2, from 10.1.13.2, 00:15:23 ago, via GigabitEthernet0/2
Route metric is 230400, traffic share count is 1
Two paths installed with share counts 2 and 1 (unequal-cost LB active) |
Routing entry for 10.1.10.0/24
Known via "eigrp 1234", distance 90, metric 158720, type internal
Routing Descriptor Blocks:
* 10.1.12.2, from 10.1.12.2, 00:15:23 ago, via GigabitEthernet0/1
Route metric is 158720, traffic share count is 1
Only one path installed. Variance not configured or candidate fails Feasibility. |
show ip eigrp topology |
P 10.1.10.0/24, 2 successors, FD is 158720 via 10.1.12.2 (158720/156160), GigabitEthernet0/1 via 10.1.13.2 (230400/156160), GigabitEthernet0/2 2 successors — both paths installed. Variance and Feasibility Condition both satisfied. |
P 10.1.10.0/24, 1 successors, FD is 158720 via 10.1.12.2 (158720/156160), GigabitEthernet0/1 via 10.1.13.2 (230400/156160), GigabitEthernet0/2 1 successor — variance not configured even though Feasibility Condition passes. |
show ip protocols | section eigrpRouting Protocol is "eigrp 1234"
Outgoing update filter list for all interfaces is not set
Incoming update filter list for all interfaces is not set
Default networks flagged in outgoing updates
Default networks accepted from incoming updates
EIGRP-IPv4 Protocol for AS(1234)
Metric weight K1=1, K2=0, K3=1, K4=0, K5=0
NSF-aware route hold timer is 240
Router-ID: 1.1.1.1
Topology : 0 (base)
Active Timer: 3 min
Distance: internal 90 external 170
Maximum path: 4
Maximum hopcount 100
Maximum metric variance 2
Maximum path: 4, Maximum metric variance 2 — both configured correctly
Maximum path: 4 Maximum metric variance 1
Variance = 1 (default) — unequal-cost LB is disabled
show ip eigrp topology 10.1.10.0/24P 10.1.10.0/24, 1 successors, FD is 158720 via 10.1.12.2 (158720/156160), GigabitEthernet0/1 via 10.1.13.2 (230400/156160), GigabitEthernet0/2
Metrics unchanged — offset-list not applied or wrong ACL match
P 10.1.10.0/24, 1 successors, FD is 158720 via 10.1.12.2 (159720/156160), GigabitEthernet0/1 via 10.1.13.2 (230400/156160), GigabitEthernet0/2 ! Note: 158720 → 159720 means +1000 applied
Metric inflated by offset — this may have broken a Feasible Successor. Verify with all-links.
1234 with your AS number and update interface names to match your topology. Each section is independent — use only the ones you need.router eigrp 1234 variance 2 ! Installs any Feasibility-satisfying path whose metric ! is <= FD * variance (2 in this example) maximum-paths 8 ! Allow up to 8 paths (equal or variance-qualified) ! Verify ! show ip protocols | include variance ! show ip route 10.1.10.0
! Step 1: Match the specific route ip access-list standard MATCH_ROUTE permit 10.1.10.0 0.0.0.255 ! Step 2: Apply the offset inbound router eigrp 1234 offset-list MATCH_ROUTE in 1000 GigabitEthernet0/1 ! Increases local metric on Gi0/1 by 1000 for 10.1.10.0/24 ! Verify ! show ip eigrp topology 10.1.10.0/24 ! show ip eigrp topology all-links | include 10.1.10.0
! Apply offset outbound — downstream routers see inflated metric router eigrp 1234 offset-list MATCH_ROUTE out 1000 GigabitEthernet0/1 ! Downstream neighbor sees offset/256 rounded up = +4 metric ! Verify on the NEIGHBOR (not the local router) ! show ip eigrp topology 10.1.10.0/24
router eigrp 1234 maximum-paths 8 ! Allows up to 8 equal-cost paths in the routing table ! Verify ! show ip protocols | include Maximum path ! show ip route 10.1.10.0
! Complete configuration for a dual-WAN edge with unequal links router eigrp 1234 variance 2 maximum-paths 4 offset-list MATCH_ROUTE in 1000 GigabitEthernet0/2 ! Lower the priority of the backup path slightly ip access-list standard MATCH_ROUTE permit any ! Verify end state show ip route 10.1.10.0 show ip protocols | section eigrp show ip eigrp topology | include successors
show ip eigrp topology all-links. Variance cannot install a path that fails Feasibility, regardless of the multiplier. Also confirm that both paths are intended for production traffic — variance can introduce asymmetric routing if paths have different latency characteristics.