This read-write value, 1 to 65534, is the cost of sending a packet on this interface expressed in OSPF's link-state metric, advertised as this interface's link cost in the router's link-state advertisement. Administrators use it to steer preferred OSPF routes toward faster or cheaper links and away from slower or more expensive ones, since OSPF picks the lowest total cost path. For example, setting this object to a low value on a fast Ethernet LAN interface and a higher value on a slower backup interface ensures OSPF prefers the faster path whenever it is available.