In FortiGate's route selection process, which is considered first?

In the FortiGate route selection process, the most specific route is indeed the first criterion considered during routing decisions. This principle stems from the idea that a more specific route, typically defined by a longer subnet mask, has precedence over less specific routes. For example, if there are routes for both 192.168.1.0/24 and 192.168.0.0/16, the route for 192.168.1.0/24 is more specific and will be selected for traffic destined to that subnet.

Focusing on the specifics allows for more precise routing control and effective handling of network traffic, ensuring that data packets are routed efficiently based on detailed criteria rather than more general route definitions. Thus, when multiple possible routes exist for a destination, the system prioritizes the one that can narrow down the possibilities more accurately.

Other factors like metric, distance, and priority may come into play subsequently, but the initial step emphasizes the specificity of the route, making it the critical factor in selecting the appropriate path for traffic within FortiGate's routing architecture.