Network Bonding

Bonding routers aggregate multiple lines, delivering a single connection that offers more bandwidth than any one of those lines could provide on its own. Bonding is not load balancing. Load balancing routers send packet streams over one of the multiple lines available to them, determining which line to use based on connection quality at the moment of transmission. They do not aggregate bandwidth. Two bonded 1 Mbit/s lines are the equivalent of a 2 Mbit/s line. Two load balanced Mbit/s lines are two 1 Mbit/s lines; traffic flows are sent over one or the other.

It is possible to bond different networking media (e.g. DSL, 4G/LTE, cable) from multiple providers. One of the challenges of bonding different media and network services from a variety of providers is that each connection will have its own particular bandwidth and latency characteristics. In addition, the kinds of connections best suited to hosts’ needs will vary depending on whether users are in a video conference, downloading files, or browsing websites.

Autotuning and QoS settings make it possible to provide connections that offer consistent service tailored to specific requirements.