What is QoS? Ways to Optimise Your Network Performance

Modern network infrastructures are experiencing serious performance challenges due to increasing data traffic and complex applications. Quality of Service (QoS) plays a critical role in overcoming these challenges and ensuring efficient use of network resources. Today, businesses and organisations need uninterrupted communication and high-performance network services more than ever.

QoS engineering solutions optimise network traffic to ensure smooth operation of IPTV, CBR and similar applications. In this article, we will examine in detail the basic principles of QoS technology, modem settings and techniques used to improve network performance. We will also provide comprehensive information on how to configure QoS settings and the benefits to businesses.

What is QoS (Quality of Service)?

Quality of Service (QoS) is an important network service that aims to reduce time loss by prioritising applications on the network. This technology guarantees a certain level of performance by providing different priorities to different applications, users or data streams.

Basically, QoS includes the following components:

• Committed data rate (CIR)
• Data rate peak (PIR)
• Committed data block size (CBR)
• Delay and Jitter control

QoS is especially vital for applications that cannot tolerate interruptions such as VoIP, video conferencing and real-time games. For example, if some users are downloading files on the same network while others are making a critical video call, QoS technology ensures uninterrupted communication by prioritising the video call.

In modems with QoS support, users can prioritise certain ports. For example, when port 80 is prioritised for VoIP and web pages, other services such as FTP have secondary priority. This ensures a seamless and high-performance network experience for critical applications.

QoS is critical to optimising network performance, especially in security operations centres (SOCs).

QoS Techniques and Protocols

QoS uses various techniques and protocols to manage network traffic. The basic QoS techniques are:

• Best Effort: Best endeavours for parcel delivery, no guarantee
• IntServ (Integrated Services): Book end-to-end resources
• DiffServ (Differentiated Services): Prioritises traffic by dividing it into classes

Classification and marking play a critical role in QoS applications. With DSCP (Differentiated Services Code Point), packets are marked using 6 bits and 64 different classes can be created. In precedence marking, 8 different priority levels are determined using 3 bits.

Basic queuing algorithms used in traffic management:

Shaping and Policing mechanisms control the traffic flow. In the Shaping technique, traffic exceeding the specified limit is kept in the buffer memory, while in the Policing technique, packets are either dropped or re-marked when the limit is exceeded. In this way, network resources are used efficiently and the performance required for critical applications is provided.

Implementation and Benefits of QoS

Successful implementation of QoS plays a critical role in helping businesses optimise their network performance. Organisations start by first identifying the high-priority traffic types and bandwidth requirements on their networks. This analysis enables the identification of latency-sensitive applications and critical business processes.

The main benefits of QoS implementation are:

• Uninterrupted Communication: Optimised performance for real-time applications such as video conferencing and VoIP
• Resource Optimisation: Efficient use of bandwidth and network resources
• Enhanced User Experience: Minimum latency and maximum performance in critical applications
• Cost Savings: Reduced investment in network expansion and lower operational costs

With QoS configuration, businesses can classify and prioritise traffic according to its level of importance. For example, critical processes such as customer calls and financial transactions can be prioritised over delay-tolerant applications such as e-mail and file transfers.

In terms of Performance Optimisation, QoS minimises packet loss and significantly reduces latency. This is especially vital for IoT devices and intelligent systems. Furthermore, thanks to traffic shaping and bandwidth allocation techniques, network resources are optimised according to predetermined policies.

The effective use of QoS supports the digital transformation processes of businesses and ensures business continuity. Especially today, when hybrid working models are becoming widespread, QoS has become an indispensable tool for the smooth operation of applications such as remote access and video conferencing.

While network security is provided with QoS, it may be necessary to take additional measures against attacks such as IP spoofing.

Conclusion

The complex requirements of modern network infrastructures have made QoS technology an indispensable tool for businesses. Intelligent management of network traffic, efficient use of resources and uninterrupted operation of critical applications are made possible by QoS. Techniques such as packet prioritisation, traffic shaping and queue management significantly improve network performance and strengthen the digital infrastructures of businesses.

QoS technology provides businesses with a competitive advantage in today’s hybrid working environments and increasing remote access demands. The smooth operation of video conferencing, VoIP and critical business applications increases customer satisfaction and reduces operational costs. QoS applications will continue to maintain their strategic importance for the future readiness of the network infrastructure and the success of digital transformation processes.

Frequently Asked Questions About QOS