What You Need To Know - ZyXEL Communications P-660HN-51 User Manual

Chapter 17 Quality of Service (QoS)

17.2 What You Need to Know

The following terms and concepts may help as you read through this chapter.
QoS versus CoS
QoS is used to prioritize source-to-destination traffic flows. All packets in the same flow are given the
same priority. CoS (class of service) is a way of managing traffic in a network by grouping similar types of
traffic together and treating each type as a class. You can use CoS to give different priorities to different
packet types.
CoS technologies include IEEE 802.1p layer 2 tagging and DiffServ (Differentiated Services or DS). IEEE
802.1p tagging makes use of three bits in the packet header, while DiffServ is a new protocol and
defines a new DS field, which replaces the eight-bit ToS (Type of Service) field in the IP header.
Tagging and Marking
In a QoS class, you can configure whether to add or change the DSCP (DiffServ Code Point) value, IEEE
802.1p priority level and VLAN ID number in a matched packet. When the packet passes through a
compatible network, the networking device, such as a backbone switch, can provide specific
treatment or service based on the tag or marker.
Traffic Shaping
Bursty traffic may cause network congestion. Traffic shaping regulates packets to be transmitted with a
pre-configured data transmission rate using buffers (or queues). Your Zyxel Device uses the Token Bucket
algorithm to allow a certain amount of large bursts while keeping a limit at the average rate.
Traffic Rate
Traffic Rate
Time
Time
(Before Traffic Shaping) (After Traffic Shaping)
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