the difference between load balancing and load sharing on Cisco Switches?

thedrama

Regarding advanced Spanning-Tree modes like PVRST+ , i need to learn the difference between these two. It'd be better if you show me via example.

Thanks in advance

SteveO86

Load Balances refers to sharing the load equally over multiple paths.

Where as load sharing, involves simply sharing the load over multiple not necessarily in an equal.

With Cisco boxes, by default CEF by default moves data on a per flow basis and does not take into account the size of each flow.

In regards to MSTP (or PVST+ I suppose) proper designs have the root bridge for one VLAN on switch and the root switch for another VLAN on a second switch. This would be load sharing not load balancing since Spanning-Tree has no way of looking at the amount of traffic passing and switching the root bridge to balance the load.

thedrama

Thank you for it.

However, if there are two Cisco switches connected to each other with two parallel links? is it load balancing, load sharing?

networker050184

Depends on how its set up.