Which Cisco IOS command is used to alter the maximum number of equal-cost OSPF routes that are inserted into the routing table?

The command used to alter the maximum number of equal-cost OSPF routes that can be inserted into the routing table is indeed "maximum-paths max." This command is executed in the OSPF router configuration mode. By default, OSPF supports up to four equal-cost paths to a destination. If you want to increase this limit, the "maximum-paths" command allows you to configure how many equal-cost routes the OSPF process can install in the routing table, thereby optimizing load balancing across multiple equal-cost routes.

When configuring OSPF, this command is critical because it allows for improved utilization of available bandwidth by distributing traffic evenly across multiple paths. This can enhance the network's overall resilience and performance.

Other options do not accurately represent the syntax or function of the command related to adjusting the maximum number of equal-cost OSPF routes. For example, "set maximum-paths" and "equal-cost-path" are not valid Cisco IOS commands for this specific configuration. Similarly, the "max-paths" command does not exist in this context as an OSPF configuration command within Cisco IOS.