8-5 IPv6 QoS on MikroTik Routers Explained
Key Concepts
IPv6 QoS on MikroTik Routers involves several key concepts:
- Queue Types
- Traffic Shaping
- Priority Queuing
- Rate Limiting
- Policing and Marking
1. Queue Types
Queue Types define how traffic is managed and prioritized within the router. MikroTik routers support various queue types, including Simple Queues, FIFO (First In, First Out), and Priority Queues.
Example: A Simple Queue can be configured to limit the bandwidth for a specific IPv6 traffic class, ensuring that critical applications like VoIP do not suffer from bandwidth congestion.
2. Traffic Shaping
Traffic Shaping involves controlling the rate at which traffic is sent or received to avoid congestion. This is achieved by delaying packets that exceed a specified rate, ensuring smoother network performance.
Example: Traffic Shaping can be applied to an IPv6 link to ensure that the maximum bandwidth usage does not exceed 80%, leaving 20% for other critical services.
3. Priority Queuing
Priority Queuing assigns different priorities to different types of traffic. Higher priority traffic is given precedence over lower priority traffic, ensuring that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth.
Example: VoIP traffic can be given a higher priority in the queue, ensuring that voice calls are not interrupted by other less critical traffic like file transfers.
4. Rate Limiting
Rate Limiting restricts the amount of traffic that can be sent or received over a specific period. This helps in managing bandwidth usage and preventing any single user or application from monopolizing the network.
Example: Rate Limiting can be applied to an IPv6 interface to ensure that no single user can exceed 10 Mbps, even if the total available bandwidth is much higher.
5. Policing and Marking
Policing involves monitoring traffic to ensure it complies with predefined policies, while marking involves tagging packets to indicate their priority or class. These techniques help in enforcing QoS policies effectively.
Example: Policing can be used to drop or delay packets that exceed a specified rate, while marking can be used to tag VoIP packets with a higher priority, ensuring they are processed first.
Understanding these concepts is crucial for implementing effective IPv6 QoS on MikroTik Routers. By mastering queue types, traffic shaping, priority queuing, rate limiting, and policing and marking, you can ensure that your network provides optimal performance for all types of traffic.