Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms prioritize network traffic to ensure optimal performance for critical applications. QoS operates by classifying traffic based on various criteria, such as source/destination IP addresses, port numbers, or application type.
Once classified, traffic is marked using techniques like DSCP (Differentiated Services Code Point) or 802.1p, allowing network devices to identify and apply appropriate policies. These policies can include prioritization (giving preference to critical traffic), bandwidth allocation (reserving a specific amount of bandwidth), congestion management (using algorithms like Weighted Fair Queuing or Low Latency Queuing to manage congestion), and traffic shaping (controlling the rate of traffic entering the network).
Effective QoS implementation requires careful planning and configuration, considering factors like network topology, application requirements, and available bandwidth. Furthermore, monitoring and analysis of QoS metrics are essential to ensure that policies are effective, and adjustments can be made as needed.
In this lab you will practice these tasks:
- Classifying traffic
- Marking traffic
- Policing and shaping
- working with queues
