Multipath routing allows network communications to be sent over multiple paths for performance, stability, and security. It distributes traffic equally and monitors packets for better distribution. It improves wireless networks but requires higher storage overhead and processing power.
Multipath routing is a technique that allows computer network communications to be sent over multiple alternative paths. This is in contrast to a single routing protocol, where a stream of data is directed along a single path from a source to a destination. With multiple routes, the source and destination pair can use any number of alternate routes for performance improvements, connection stability, and potential security improvements.
In single-path routing protocols, internal routers of a network direct traffic to routers at the edge of the network which, in turn, connect at the edge of another network. For a network transmission to reach its destination, each route is manually administered on the routers. A transmission then follows established paths, choosing an alternative only when the normal path becomes unavailable for some reason. This leaves alternate routes with little or nothing to do.
Through multipath routing protocols it is also possible to implement the additional resources available. In case of performance improvements, the load from a network can be distributed over multiple paths. Through the use of a method known as equal-cost multipath routing, traffic can be distributed equally across connections of different strengths. For example, considering a network that shares connectivity between two different service providers, one of which offers only half the speed of the other, one third of the network traffic may be routed over the slower path while the other two thirds down the faster trail.
Network security can also be improved when communications are spread across multiple paths. Here, instead of an intruder looking at a common route, data is scattered across alternative routes. This makes it difficult for an attacker to determine all possible routes for a communiqué and thus limit data interception to a very small amount if one of the routes is observed.
Additional multipath routing techniques can monitor packets for better distribution depending on usage. For some types of network communications that require less delay, such as voice communications or multiplayer network games, this type of traffic can be appropriately routed through more responsive paths. Other traffic, such as downloading large files, can also be recognized and distributed across multiple paths to balance the load and choose paths that may have greater delay but higher throughput.
Multipath routing has also found use in wireless networks. In these cases, the connections established are limited. A network node can be mobile or temporary and provide the entire network with a somewhat unreliable infrastructure. Allowing alternative paths to other nodes in that network improves the reliability of the overall wireless network, as nodes can come and go.
However, there are some shortcomings in the multipath routing technique. Routers required to monitor alternate routes will have a higher storage overhead and will tend to consume additional processing power determining and propagating the many routes to other routers. There are additional bandwidth issues as well, as packets may require more information to attach, increasing their size slightly.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
