What is the main purpose of link aggregation in a network?

The main purpose of link aggregation in a network is to ensure maximum throughput and redundancy. By combining multiple network connections into a single logical link, link aggregation increases the overall bandwidth available between network devices. This means that the total traffic load can be distributed across the aggregated links, effectively increasing the data rate and enhancing performance.

Additionally, link aggregation provides redundancy; if one link in the aggregated group fails, the traffic can continue to flow through the remaining operational links. This capability is critical for maintaining a reliable network connection, as it minimizes the risk of outages and ensures continuous service even in the event of a link failure.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the purpose of link aggregation. For example, increasing the number of available IP addresses pertains to IP address management rather than link performance. Securing data against unauthorized access is a matter of network security protocols, and defining VLAN configurations pertains to local area network segmentation, none of which are directly tied to the function of link aggregation.