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Understanding QoS Concept
Understanding Qos Concept Article covers the following CCNA/ICND1 Exam Topics:
Under Operation of IP Data Networks:
1. Identify common applications and their impact on the network.
2. Predict the data flow between two hosts across a network.
Recommended Study Plan:
1. Download the ICND1v2 Exam Topics Sheet from Cisco Website.
2. Follow the Steps and the Articles under IP Networks Fundamentals by order.
Average Time Required Studying this Article: 1 Hour
Prioritize TCP/IP Network Application using Quality of Service (QoS)
How would you prioritize certain traffic to deliver the best Quality of Service? Or how would prioritize a traffic of
certain application to deliver the best of its service that uses UDP? As mentioned in TCP and UDP Protocols Article,
UDP is used to deliver Real-time applications such VoIP and IPTV. Here where the trade off, UDP not like TCP, it
lacks features (which is needed by some Services and Applications) and all it does is to deliver the packet with best
effort (which is suitable to some Services and Applications). But because it has no features to protect the packet or at
least retransmit the IP Packet like TCP Error Recovery feature does, therefore, any application that uses UDP is
tolerant to packet lose due to factors that I will list later on in this article.
Is it acceptable to lose some packets on the way especially in Real-time application such IPTV and VoIP? Well, it is
acceptable to certain level, if Im watching IPTV and the screen flickered little bit due some lost packets, Im fine with
that, but If Im on the phone with someone using VoIP, then it is NOT acceptable to lose any packet, otherwise, no
one of us will understand something of the conversation. So what is the solution? We know that we cant use TCP,
because TCP got big Header and lot of overhead to process, TCP error recovery wont help either, because no one of
us can wait on the phone till TCP retransmit the packet again and start hearing the same conversation again and
again, like echo.
The Solution
QoS, prioritize the service especially that one that provides VoIP at the router and switch level. VoIP is similar to VIP
ticket, the router and the switch will process this packet before any packet in the bucket. It deals with the VoIP packet
is as if a very fragile object.
In Packet-switched Network: QoS is affected by various factors, which can be divided into Human and Technical
factors.
Human Factors include: Stability of Service, delays, user information.
Technical Factors include: reliability, scalability, effectiveness, maintainability, and grade of service, etc
Note: that many things can happen to packets in general as they travel from source to destination, resulting in the
following problems as seen from the point of view of the sender and receiver:
Low Throughput (Bandwidth): Due to varying load from other users sharing the same network resources, the bit
rate (the maximum throughput) that can be provided to a certain data stream may be too low for real-time multimedia
services if all data streams get the same scheduling priority. (Thiss crucial from the standpoint of VoIP Applications)
Dropped Packets (Lose): The routers might fail to deliver some packets if FCS at the router decided that some
frames are corrupted, or if packets arrive at a router and its buffer is full. The receiving application may ask for this
information to be retransmitted (if TCP is used) , possibly causing sever delays in the overall transmission.
Errors: Sometimes packets are corrupted due to bit errors caused by noise and interference, especially in wireless
communications and long copper wires. The receiver has to detect this and, just as if the packet was dropped, may
ask for this information to be retransmitted. (If TCP is used)
Latency (delay): It might take a long time for each packet to reach its destination, because it gets held up in long
queue, or takes a less direct route to avoid congestion. This is different from throughput (bandwidth), as the delay
can build up over time, even if the throughput is almost normal or balanced. In some cases, excessive latency can
render an application such as VoIP or online gaming.
Jitter: Packets from the source will reach the destination with different delays. A packets delay varies with its
position in the queue of the routers along the path between source and destination and this position can vary
unpredictably. This variation in delay is known as Jitter and can seriously affect the quality of streaming audio and/or
video.
Note: QoS rules can be applied on TCP and UDP port types, meaning, all application can use QoS regardless of the
port type. But remember, equality dont work with QoS, otherwise, we are back to square one. The figure clearly
shows how VoIP got the biggest pie! Bandwidth tend to serve all applications equally, but this method will effect
application such VoIP.
Which Application can take advantage of QoS?
A defined quality of service may be desired or required for certain types of network traffic, for example:
Streaming Media: Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), Audio over Ethernet, and Audio Over IP.
IP Telephony: also known by Voice over IP (VoIP) or when VoIP and Video combined as Video Conferencing.
Storage Applications: iSCSI and Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE).
Safety-Critical Applications: Remote Surgery where availability can be hazardous.
The above type applications/services are considered Inelastic, meaning they require a special care with certain
minimum level of Throughput (bandwidth) and a certain maximum latency to function. By contrast, Elastic
applications/services can take advantage of however much or little Throughput (bandwidth) is available. Bulk file
transfers that rely on TCP are generally Elastic.
Where QoS can be applied at the routers or switches level?
Note that Conventional Routers and LAN Switches operate on a best effort basis, the throughput (bandwidth)
available to all applications/services to use. These equipments are less expensive, less complex and faster; thus
more popular than competing with more complex routers and switches that provide QoS mechanism.
With complex switches and routers, QoS are applied on VLAN bases. Consider a college campus that provides
online courses, their student requirements could be: Video Streaming, VoIP, and Video conferencing for live classes.
At switches and routers levels, they will use separate VLANs for different QoS levels. One Vlan might be used for
browsing their Web-Server contents such texts and pictures (Low Priority), one for streaming video (higher priority),
and one for Video Conferencing and VoIP (highest Priority).
Next: Step II: Understanding Base Number Systems
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About Imad Daou
He is the founder of CCNA HUB, a CCNA Training HUB to help CCNA students get certified. Imad has more than 10
years of IT experience as Field Service and Consulting Engineer. A+, Network+, Server+, Security+, Storage+, HP,
Dell, and IBM Hardware Certified. He's a Professional SMB IT Consultant.
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