Can two routers with an iBGP session maintain different local preferences?

Question

Here is the setup: - We have two routers R1 and R2 in two distant locations and in the same AS0. - AS0 is connected to AS1 via both R1 and R2 receive some AS1 route (one and the same prefix) from both sessions - R1 and R2 have iBGP session with no filters

The goal: - We want to force R1 to choose its locally received route towards AS1 - We want to force R2 to also choose its locally received route towards AS1

Question: With a single router in the network we force preference using the local-preference attribute. Can we also use the local-preference in the above described setup?

Answer 1

For locally received routes at routers R1 & R2 you can use feature WEIGHT for specific interface.

if you want only one router out of two as best to forward the traffic outside the your AS, use local preference.

Answer 2

I am copying the comment of waza-ari here, as it helped me realize where my problem was:

Actually I think this should be the default behaviour. Given both routers are connected to the same AS, the local-pref, AS path length, origin type and med should be equal. The next step in the BGP decision process is to prefer eBGP learned routes over iBGP learned routers, which is exactly what you want. Is it possible that your provider has a MED value assigned to the prefixes? Strip them when they enter your network and you should be good. Or am I missing something?