How to Create a Class of Service


The Policy tab lets you define classes of service (CoS) that can include one or more of the following components: an 802.1p priority, an IP type of service (ToS) value, drop precedence, rate limits, and transmit queue configuration.

Initially, the Class of Service Configuration window (available from the Policy tab Class of Service left-menu tab) is pre-populated with eight static classes of service, each associated with one of the 802.1p priorities (0-7). You can use these classes of service as is, or configure them to include ToS, rate limit, and/or transmit queue values. In addition, you can also create your own classes of service.

After you have created and defined your classes of service, they are then available when you make a class of service selection for a rule action (Rule tab), a role default (General tab), or an automated service (Automated Service window).

It is recommended that you read Getting Started with Class of Service before creating your classes of service.

Instructions on:

Creating a Class of Service

The basic components for a class of service include an 802.1p priority, an IP type of service (ToS) value, drop precedence, rate limits, and transmit queue configuration.

Use the following instructions to create a new class of service using the Class of Service Configuration window.

  1. Open ExtremeCloud IQ Site Engine and select Control tab > Policy tab > Class of Service left-menu tab.
  2. Right-click the Class of Service tab tree and select Create COS from the menu.
    The Create window opens.
  3. Enter the name for the CoS in the Name field and select OK.
    The new class of service opens in the right panel.
  4. Select the Edit button to enter a description for the CoS.
  5. Select the Edit button next to the Transmit Queue field to open the Edit Transmit Queue window, from which you can select a transmit queue for the class of service. If you would like to select a different transmit queue for each port type, select the Select Q/Port Type option. Then, when you select OK, a window opens where you can specify a different transmit queue for each port type.
  6. Select an 802.1p priority from the drop-down list to choose the priority (0-7 with 7 being the highest priority).
  7. Select the Edit button to select the ToS option to associate an IP ToS (Type of Service) value with the class of service, if desired (see IP Type of Service for more information). Enter a value in the Type of Service (ToS) field.
  8. Specify a Drop Precedence, if necessary. The Drop Precedence is used in conjunction with the Flex-Edge feature available on K-Series and S-Series (Release 7.11 or higher) devices. Flex-Edge provides the unique capability to prioritize traffic in the MAC chip as it enters the switch. When the Class of Service is assigned to a policy role, and that role is applied to a port via a MAC source address mapping or the port default role, the drop precedence dictates the internal priority (within the MAC chip) that will be used for packets received on the port. If congestion occurs, packets with a high drop precedence are discarded first. Therefore, if a packet is important, it should have a low drop precedence. Refer to the K-Series or S-Series Configuration Guide for more information on the Flex-Edge feature and drop precedence.
  9. If desired, use the Rate Limiting/Rate Shaping section to select a port inbound, outbound, and transmit queue rate limit to associate with the class of service. Select View/Edit next to the IRL Port Group Mappings or ORL Port Group Mappings to open the CoS - Rate Limit Mappings tab of the Rate Limit Port Groups window where you can add, edit, or delete a rate limit. The rate limit you select here applies to all IRL/ORL port groups. Select the View/Edit button next to TXQ Port Group Shapers field to open the CoS - Transmit Queue Mappings tab to configure transmit queue mappings.
  10. If you have ExtremeWireless Controllers on your network, you see an option to select inbound and outbound user rate limits to associate with the class of service. User rate limits specify the bandwidth given to each individual user on a port. Currently, user rate limits are only available for wireless controllers.
  11. Select Open/Manage Domain > Save Domain. The class of service is created and is listed in the Class of Service tab.

After a class of service has been created, you can double-click in the Class of Service Configuration table to modify its characteristics, if necessary.

Creating Class of Service Port Groups

The Policy tab provides the ability to create rate limit port groups that let you group together ports with similar rate limiting requirements. For example, you might want to create a class of service where your edge ports would receive one rate limit while your core ports would receive a different rate limit. With port groups, you can create a single class of service that assigns a different rate limit to each group.

It also provides the ability to create transmit queue shaper port groups that enable you to isolate certain kinds of sensitive network traffic so that you can give it a high transmit queue priority. For example, ports on a router might be grouped together and configured with a specific rate shaping parameter. A transmit queue port group can contain multiple port queue types (for example, 4-queue ports and 16-queue ports) depending on the type of devices on your network.

Initially, all ports are grouped into a Default port group. When you create new port groups, you add ports from the Default group into your newly defined port groups.

The following instructions are for creating new port groups for an existing class of service.

  1. Open the Class of Service left-panel tab and select the Inbound Rate Limit Port Groups, Outbound Limit Port Groups, or Transmit Queue Port Groups tab, depending on the type of port group you want to create.
  2. Right-click the tab and select Create Port Group to create the desired group type: rate limit (RL) port group or transmit queue (TxQ) shaper port group.
    The Create window opens.
  3. Enter a name for the port group and select OK.
  4. The new port group displays in the Class of Service left-panel tab under the appropriate port group type.
  5. Right-click on the new port group in the left-panel tab and select Add/Remove Ports.
  6. The Add/Remove Ports window opens with the ports in the Default port group displayed in the left panel. Add ports to the new port group by selecting the ports in the left-panel, then selecting the port group in the right panel, and selecting Add/Move To. Select OK to save the changes and close the window.
  7. Select Save Domain in the Open/Manage Domain drop-down list.

Deleting a Class of Service

  1. Open the Class of Service tab.
  2. Right-click the class of service you want to remove, and select Delete.
  3. Select OK to confirm that you want the class of service removed.
  4. Select Save Domain in the Open/Manage Domain drop-down list.

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