1. Packet Cloning (Packet Duplication) #

• Sends the same packet over multiple WAN links at the same time.

• The receiver keeps the first packet that arrives and ignores duplicates.

• Best for: VoIP calls, video conferencing, and critical applications that need smooth communication.

• Pros: Prevents packet loss, improves call and video quality.

• Cons: Uses more bandwidth.

2. Session-Based Weighted Load Balancing #

• Assigns new network connections (sessions) to different WAN links based on their assigned weight.

• Once a session starts on a link, it stays there until it ends.

• Best for: Web browsing, cloud apps, streaming services.

• Pros: Keeps connections stable, avoids packet reordering.

• Cons: If a WAN link slows down, the session remains stuck on it until it finishes.

3. Per-Packet Weighted Load Balancing #

• Splits individual packets across multiple WAN links instead of full sessions.

• The weight assigned to each link decides how many packets go through it.

• Best for: Large file transfers, streaming media, bulk data sync.

• Pros: Maximizes bandwidth use and balances traffic.

• Cons: Can cause packet reordering, which may slow down TCP traffic.

4. Best Path Selection #

• Monitors latency, jitter, packet loss, and bandwidth on each WAN link.

• Always picks the best-performing link for traffic.

• Best for: VoIP, video calls, financial transactions, cloud applications.

• Pros: Ensures smooth and high-quality performance.

• Cons: Needs constant network monitoring.

Comparison Table #

Key Takeaways #

• For VoIP & Video Calls → Use Packet Cloning + Best Path Selection

• For Web & Cloud Apps → Use Session-Based Load Balancing

• For Large File Transfers → Use Per-Packet Load Balancing

• For Overall Optimization → Use Best Path Selection