How does a load balancer improve network performance?

A load balancer enhances network performance primarily by distributing traffic across multiple servers. This method optimizes resource use, enhances response times, and ensures reliability and redundancy.

When traffic is effectively balanced among several servers, it prevents any single server from becoming overwhelmed with requests. This distribution is crucial for handling large volumes of incoming data, allowing each server to operate within its optimal capacity. As a result, users experience faster response times and reduced latency because the load balancer can direct requests to the least busy server or the one most capable of handling the particular request type at that time.

Additionally, by improving the overall capacity of the network, a load balancer can contribute to higher availability and fault tolerance. If one server fails, for instance, the load balancer can reroute traffic to other operational servers, maintaining service continuity.

Other approaches mentioned, such as limiting the number of users, increasing server complexity, or shutting down excessive servers, do not contribute positively to network performance. In fact, they may result in reduced accessibility and slower response times, countering the goal of improving performance.