Why You Should Implement Quality of Service on Your Network

In an era in which networks are becoming increasingly important, their ability to dynamically adapt to the needs of different applications with the shortest possible response time is a highly valuable characteristic.

Quality of Service (QoS) is a set of tools and techniques used in IP networks to manage and optimize the distribution of resources according to the varying needs of different applications, users, and services. In this way, it is possible to ensure that applications requiring special conditions (such as voice and video) receive them, even in congestion scenarios (that is, when the infrastructure is overloaded due to high traffic demand).

This has become increasingly necessary because IP networks were originally designed to provide a best-effort service, which means that all packet traffic is treated equally and sent on a FIFO basis: first in, first out.

What Does Quality of Service Consist Of?

Quality of Service gives the network the ability to provide adequate performance and availability for each application or service running on it, while ensuring certain quality criteria. For example:

Bandwidth: the amount of data a network can transmit in a given period of time. Bandwidth: the amount of data a network can transmit in a given period of time.
Latency: the time it takes for a packet to travel from its origin to its destination. Latency: the time it takes for a packet to travel from its origin to its destination.
Jitter: the variation in latency. Jitter: the variation in latency.
Packet loss. Packet loss.

These quality criteria are important because each application has different requirements.

For example, an application such as Zoom or Teams (Microsoft) requires the network to provide sufficient bandwidth to transmit high-quality video and voice in real time, low latency so that the user experience is better and there are no delays in image or audio, and low packet loss to avoid interruptions in the transmission. In contrast, an email application is not as dependent on latency, as long as it has low packet loss and sufficient bandwidth to send messages.

How Can It Be Implemented?

There are several mechanisms that allow for differentiated treatment of traffic generated according to its needs:

While this does not define Quality of Service in itself, it is an important part of its implementation, as it allows the network to identify packets as belonging to a certain type of traffic and thus ensure the most appropriate treatment.

This can be done in different ways, depending on the characteristics of the network. For example, using the DSCP code in IP packets or the IEEE 802.1p standard to implement it at the Layer 2 level.

Different types of traffic have different bandwidth needs. Once traffic is identified, through a marking, as belonging to a specific application or type, that traffic can be guaranteed bandwidth that meets its requirements.

For example, high-quality video and audio traffic should be guaranteed more bandwidth than email or instant messaging application traffic.

This is fundamental, since the bandwidth of a path in a network is limited (considering cost optimization or investment). By prioritizing sensitive traffic over less critical traffic, the proper functioning of important applications is ensured, even in congestion scenarios.

Assured and peak bandwidths can be set for different types of traffic, thereby keeping the network operational even when it is at full capacity.

These are technologies that allow control of network traffic. Policing is used to limit network traffic to a determined bandwidth level (or packets per second), while shaping imposes restrictions on network traffic so that it does not exceed set limits; for example, when providing differentiated services to customers who subscribe to different plans.

The use of these tools in all their possible combinations constitutes the implementation of Quality of Service, which will depend on the specific objectives and needs of each network.

A Technique That Adds Value to Network Services

The market is unforgiving and users are becoming more demanding, so the design and implementation of an adequate Quality of Service policy to ensure the reliability and optimal performance of the infrastructure can make the difference between a poor service and a better user experience.

Andres Burel, Engineering Leader of Telco & Smart Cities.

Andres is a Telecommunications Engineer from Universidad ORT (Uruguay). He has over 10 years of experience in telecommunications and has worked for vendors and service providers.

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