multi-homing
Multi-homing is a network architecture in which a device or network connects to more than two independent networks, providing enhanced redundancy, load balancing, and traffic optimization.
Multi-homing enables a network or device to maintain connections with multiple external networks or service providers simultaneously. This approach increases resilience, ensures continuous connectivity, and allows for dynamic traffic distribution in the event of link or provider failures.
Key features include the use of Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) for dynamic routing, route optimization for efficient traffic engineering, and geographic diversity to mitigate risks from localized outages. Multi-homing is widely used in enterprise networks, content delivery networks (CDNs), and cloud environments to maximize uptime and performance.
Effective multi-homing strategies involve redundant physical paths, robust routing policies, and ongoing monitoring to ensure optimal operation and rapid failover when needed.