In BGP, the degree-of-preference number that the PortMaster assigns to every external route it advertises to an internal or confederation-member BGP peer. A higher number indicates a greater preference for a route when more than one exists to a destination. Internal and confederation-member peers receiving this route use this local preference rather than calculating their own degree of preference for a route. You can use a routing policy rule to override this value and assign your own local preference to a route you advertise. See also degree of preference.