Yes, it is definitely possible and commonly practiced in network management to configure multiple routes to the same destination network, assigning them different metrics to establish a priority between them.

This approach is used to provide redundancy and high availability in the network, ensuring that if one route fails, traffic can be automatically rerouted via another available route.

The route metric is a value assigned to an IP route that indicates its “cost.” When there are multiple routes to the same destination, the router uses the metric to determine which of these routes is preferred.

The route with the lowest metric has the highest priority and is selected for traffic forwarding. If this route becomes inaccessible, the router will select the next most preferable route, that is, the route with the next lowest metric.

How to Implement it

• Dynamic Routing Protocols: Dynamic routing protocols such as OSPF, EIGRP or BGP are capable of learning multiple routes to the same destination and assigning them metrics based on various factors (bandwidth, delay, cost, etc.). These protocols can automatically adjust routes and metrics in response to changes in network topology.
• Static Routing: You can also manually configure multiple static routes to the same destination with different metrics. Although this method does not automatically adapt to network changes, it provides an easy way to establish redundancy for specific destinations.

Considerations

• Planning: When configuring multiple paths, it is crucial to plan carefully to avoid routing loops or configurations that could cause network instability.
• Load balancing: Some routers and routing protocols support load balancing over multiple paths with equal metrics, allowing for more efficient use of network resources.
• Monitoring and Maintenance: It is important to monitor network performance and keep routing configurations up to date to ensure redundancy and high availability are working as expected.

The ability to configure multiple paths with different metrics offers network administrators a powerful tool to improve network resiliency and efficiency.

By using this strategy, you can ensure that your network continues to function optimally, even in the face of failures on certain routes.