Switch Database; Traffic Prioritization - 3Com 3C17300-US Implementation Manual

Switch Features Explained 19
For more information about STP and RSTP, see Chapter 4 "Using
Resilience Features".

Switch Database

The Switch Database is an integral part of the Switch and is used by the
Switch to determine if a packet should be forwarded, and which port
should transmit the packet if it is to be forwarded.
For more information about the Switch Database, see Chapter 5 "Using
the Switch Database".

Traffic Prioritization

Traffic prioritization allows your network traffic to be prioritized to ensure
that high priority data, such as time-sensitive and system-critical data is
transferred smoothly and with minimal delay over a network.
Traffic prioritization ensures that high priority data is forwarded through
the Switch without being delayed by lower priority data. Traffic
prioritization uses the two traffic queues that are present in the hardware
of the Switch to ensure that high priority traffic is forwarded on a
different queue from lower priority traffic. High priority traffic is given
preference over low priority traffic to ensure that the most critical traffic
gets the highest level of service.
The traffic prioritization feature supported by your Switch using layer 2
information, is compatible with the relevant sections of the IEEE
802.1D/D17 standard (incorporating IEEE 802.1p).
For more information about 802.1D and traffic prioritization, see Chapter
6 "Using Traffic Prioritization".
Quality of Service
Traffic prioritization can be taken one step further by using the Quality of
Service (QoS) feature. Quality of Service (QoS) enables you to specify
service levels for different traffic classifications. This enables you to
prioritize particular applications or traffic types.
The Switch uses a policy-based QoS mechanism. By default, all traffic is
assigned the "normal" QoS policy profile. If needed, you can create other
QoS policy profiles and apply them to different traffic types so that they
have different priorities across the network.
For more information about Quality of Service, see Chapter 6 "Using
Traffic Prioritization".