30-3
Catalyst2950 and Catalyst2955 Switch Software Configuration Guide
78-11380-10
Chapter30 Configuring QoS Understanding QoS
•Prioritization bits in Layer 3 packets
Layer 3 IP packets can carry a Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) value. The supported
DSCP values are 0, 8, 10, 16, 18, 24, 26, 32, 34, 40, 46, 48, and 56 .
Figure30-1 QoS Classification Layers in Frames and Packets
All switches and routers that access the Internet rely on the class information to give the same forwarding
treatment to packets with the same class information and different treatment to packets with different
class information. The class information in the packet can be assigned by end hosts or by switches or
routers along the way, based on a configured policy, detailed examination of the packet, or both. Detailed
examination of the packet is expected to happen closer to the edg e of the networ k so that the c ore
switches and routers are not overloaded.
Switches and routers along the path can use the class information to limit the amount of resources
allocated per traffic class. The behavior of an individual device when handling traffic in the DiffServ
architecture is called per-hop behavior. If all devices along a path have a consistent pe r-hop behavi or,
you can construct an end-to-end QoS solution.
Implementing QoS in your network can be a simple or complex task and d epend s o n th e QoS f eat ures
offered by your internetworking devices, the traffic types and patterns in your network, a nd the
granularity of control that you need over incoming and outgoing traffic.
111386
Encapsulated Packet
Layer 2
header IP header Data
Layer 2 802.1Q and 802.1p Frame
Preamble Start frame
delimiter DA
Len
SA Tag PT Data FCS
Layer 3 IPv4 Packet
Version
length ToS
(1 byte) ID Offset TTL Proto FCS IP-SA IP-DA Data
3 bits used for CoS (user priority)
DSCP