For IP, Cisco IOS Software applies load balancing across up to four equal-cost paths by default. With the
maximum-paths maximum-path router configuration command, up to 16 equal-cost routes can be kept in
the routing table. If you set the maximum-path to 1, you disable load balancing. When a packet is process
switched, load balancing over equal-cost paths occurs on a per-packet basis. When packets are fast
switched, load balancing over equal-cost paths occurs on a per-destination basis.