Split multi-link trunking

What is Split Multi-Link Trunking?
Split-Multi-Link-Trunking (SMLT) is an extended form of Multi-Link-Trunking (MLT), which provides increased flexibility through bandwidth scaling and / or link aggregation. It avoids connection errors and multiplexes a port between two switches.
SMLT was developed by Nortel Networks. It is a link aggregation technique that includes the switching functionalities of layer two through the parallel combination of several network ports. This increases the speed and bandwidth and also provides fault tolerance and redundancy in the event of a fault. SMLT is an improvement over MLT as it enables link aggregation on two different switches together.

Computer networks use many techniques and methods to improve the speed, capacity, redundancy, and flexibility of data communications. Link aggregation, or multi-link trunking, is a productive technique that greatly improves the performance and reliability of a network.
It does this by allowing multiple physical network connections between switches, connected together as a single connection for load balancing purposes and to improve redundancy. This provides an alternative connection in the event of an error. Links are selected using a load balancing algorithm to determine the load and requirements of each packet sent.

SMLT is an advanced form of link aggregation. It offers the possibility to select two physical connections from different switches, which distribute the load on different connections / switches. SMLT significantly removes routing loops due to its link aggregation and redundancy technology.

It performs its core operation with the help of an inter-switch trunk, which switches together with one or more point-to-point links to form a single link.