networks. The protocol supports networks designed with SMLT or DSMLT triangles, squares, and SMLT or DSMLT full mesh topologies, with routing enabled on the core VLANs. R-SMLT takes care of packet forwarding in core router failures and works with any of the following protocol types: IP Unicast Static Routes, RIP1, RIP2, OSPF, BGP and IPX RIP. Product support R-SMLT is supported on Avaya's Ethernet Routing Switch ERS 8600, ERS 8800, VSP9000, ERS 8300 and MERS 8600 products. Distributed multi-link trunking Distributed multi-link trunking (DMLT) or distributed MLT is a proprietary computer networking protocol designed by Nortel Networks, and now owned by Extreme Networks, used to load balance the network traffic across connections and also across multiple switches or modules in a chassis. The protocol is an enhancement to the Multi-Link Trunking (MLT) protocol. DMLT allows the ports in a trunk (MLT) to span multiple units of a stack of switches or to span multiple cards in a chassis, preventing network outages when one switch in a stack fails or a card in a chassis fails. DMLT is described in an expired United States Patent. Distributed split multi-link trunking Distributed split multi-link trunking (DSMLT) or Distributed SMLT is a computer networking technology developed at Nortel to enhance the Split Multi-Link Trunking (SMLT) protocol. DSMLT allows the ports in a trunk to span multiple units of a stack of switches or to span multiple cards in a chassis, preventing network outages when one switch in a stack fails or one card in a chassis fails. Fault-tolerance is a very important aspect of Distributed Split Multi-Link Trunking (DSMLT) technology. Should any one switch, port, or more than one link fail, the DSMLT technology will automatically redistribute traffic across the remaining links. Automatic redistribution is accomplished in less than half a second (typically less than 100 milliseconds) so no outage is noticed by end users. This high speed recovery is required by many critical networks where outages can cause loss of life or very large monetary losses in critical networks. Combining Multi-Link Trunking (MLT), DMLT, SMLT, DSMLT and R-SMLT technologies create networks that support the most critical networks. Product support SMLT is supported on Avaya's Ethernet Routing Switch 1600, 5500, 8300, ERS 8600, MERS 8600, VSP-7000 and VSP-9000 products. References US 7173934 Lapuh, Roger & Yili Zhao "System, device, and method for improving communication network reliability using trunk splitting"; (SMLT) issued 2007-02-06 Further reading