Configuring Outbound QoS Policy on Cisco Router WAN Interface | Benefits in Different Network Conditions

Best Network Conditions for Implementing Outbound QoS Policy on a Cisco Router WAN Interface

Question

Under which network conditions is an outbound QoS policy that is applied on a router WAN interface most beneficial?

Answers

Explanations

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A.

An outbound QoS policy that is applied on a router WAN interface can be beneficial under different network conditions, but it is most useful under interface saturation conditions.

Interface saturation occurs when the traffic on an interface exceeds the available bandwidth, leading to congestion and delays. When this happens, packets may be dropped or queued, leading to poor application performance and user experience. In this scenario, an outbound QoS policy can help manage the traffic by prioritizing certain types of traffic over others, thereby ensuring that critical traffic is not dropped or delayed.

An outbound QoS policy typically involves traffic classification and marking. This process involves identifying the different types of traffic on the network and assigning them to different classes based on their priority. For example, real-time traffic such as voice and video may be given a higher priority than file downloads or email traffic. Once the traffic has been classified, it is then marked with a specific value or tag that indicates its priority level.

While traffic classification and marking are important aspects of QoS, they are not sufficient on their own to manage congestion. To be effective, QoS policies must be implemented at key points in the network, such as at the edge of the network where the WAN link connects to the Internet. This is where an outbound QoS policy applied on a router WAN interface can be most beneficial.

In summary, while an outbound QoS policy can be beneficial under all network conditions, it is most useful under interface saturation conditions where congestion is a problem. An outbound QoS policy can help manage the traffic by prioritizing certain types of traffic over others, thereby ensuring that critical traffic is not dropped or delayed.