Why doesn't the max hop count actually limit hop count in ebgp-multihop?

[colsen]

For the following setting on max hop count in BGP:

P2R1(config-router)#neigh 1.1.1.1 ebgp-multihop ?

<1-255> maximum hop count

<cr>

We are trying to limit the actual EBGP hops that our provider is creating to their loopback EBGP neighbor. We have proven that the max hop count doesn't actually limit the max hop count. Why? Can this be done? How? Config? URL would be great also.

[ruwhite]

It doesn't limit the number of hops away a neighbor can be by setting a check on the inbound TTL, it should, however, set the TTL of locally generated packets so they will not traverse all the way to a distant neighbor. How did you go about testing this, and what did you find? You may have to set it one lower than what you expect to keep the peering relationship from forming.

Russ.W