In networking, what does the term "Load Splitting" refer to?

Load splitting refers to the process of distributing network traffic evenly among multiple available paths or routes to ensure optimal use of resources and maintain a balanced load across the network. By spreading the traffic across several paths, load splitting enhances performance, reduces the likelihood of bottlenecks, and increases overall reliability.

This practice helps avoid overwhelming a single link or device with too much traffic, thereby improving throughput and reducing latency. In scenarios where multiple routes to a destination exist, load splitting allows for higher resilience and responsiveness in the network, which is crucial for maintaining service levels during peak usage times or when experiencing failures.

Increasing bandwidth on a single connection does not pertain to load splitting, as it focuses on enhancing the capacity of an individual link rather than distributing traffic. Likewise, eliminating redundant paths is not related to load distribution; instead, it might lead to vulnerabilities in the network by having fewer alternate routes. Controlling traffic flow to reduce congestion pertains to managing overall traffic and might involve techniques like traffic shaping or prioritization, but it doesn’t specifically address the distribution of that traffic across multiple paths.