What is the primary factor that EIGRP uses to determine the best path?

EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) utilizes a composite metric to determine the best path to a destination. This composite metric is derived from several factors, with the primary determinant being the metric value assigned to each link.

The metric takes into account multiple elements including bandwidth, delay, load, and reliability, but is primarily focused on the bandwidth of the links. When EIGRP calculates the best path, it assesses the metric value for each available route and chooses the one with the lowest composite metric value. This method allows EIGRP to evaluate paths more effectively than simply relying on a single factor like hop count.

While hop count is a factor in some routing protocols, it doesn't provide the granularity and flexibility of EIGRP's metric system. Total available bandwidth and distance vector count are related concepts but do not encapsulate the comprehensive approach that EIGRP uses to evaluate the best path based on multiple metrics. Thus, the metric value assigned to each link accurately represents the primary factor in EIGRP's path selection process.