This is the metric value for reaching the specified prefix over this circuit, following the ManualOrAutomatic behavior. It is the narrow routing cost assigned to this manually or automatically created OSI reachability entry, directly influencing whether SPF prefers this circuit as the path to that destination over any competing path with a different metric. For example, setting this to a high value like 60 for a Reachable Address that should only be used as a last-resort path keeps SPF from preferring it over any lower-cost alternative that also reaches the same prefix.