Why Are So Many Network Connections Too Different IP Addresses Needed To Download A Sites Home Page?

[Jason]

If I use my Kaspersky Network Monitor, Network Activity tab it lists up to 16 IE TCP network connections at the same time, many to different IP addresses, just to down load the Google home page, for example.

All sites appear to do this.

A web Flash based game also used many connections and different IPs at the same time. Would they all be to the same server?

How do these multiple connections work - can too many cause lag?

Tried using Google but became confused, so would prefer home grown answers rather than links.

Appreciate all answers - thx

[Carter]

I have a background as a technology consultant since 1997. The conditions of multiple TCP connections that you describe may cause lag. A number of possible reasons exist for multiple TCP connections on a given website/flash game including:

- Advertisements that appear on a website typically link to multiple other sites

- Flash games can have multiplayer connections (if play with friends is enabled)

- Flash games can have ads

- Flash games may need to connect to databases, social networks, etc. when tracking scores, play with friends options, etc.

- Web sites in general are more social but have always had tracking software via cookies, ads, and some sites that appear to be a single site but are linked to multiple websites

- Even a single website may have an entire server farm (multiple servers) to serve as backup in case of hardware failure. This acts as an automated failover system so that a website stays up even if the hardware fails (most sites have this behavior by default).