5-3 
Applying QoS Techniques in a Network 
Figure 5-1 Positions of the QoS techniques in a network 
 
 
As shown in 
Figure 5-1, traffic classification, traffic shaping, traffic policing, congestion management, 
and congestion avoidance mainly implement the following functions: 
z  Traffic classification uses certain match criteria to assign packets with the same characteristics to a 
class. Based on classes, you can provide differentiated services.  
z  Traffic policing polices flows entering or leaving an AP, and imposes penalties on traffic flows that 
exceed the pre-set threshold to prevent aggressive use of network resources. You can apply traffic 
policing to both incoming and outgoing traffic of a port.  
z  Traffic shaping proactively adapts the output rate of traffic to the network resources available on 
the downstream AP to eliminate packet drops. Traffic shaping usually applies to the outgoing traffic 
of a port.  
z  Congestion management provides a resource scheduling policy to determine the packet 
forwarding sequence when congestion occurs. Congestion management usually applies to the 
outgoing traffic of a port.  
z  Congestion avoidance monitors the network resource usage and is usually applied to the outgoing 
traffic of a port. When congestion worsens, congestion avoidance actively reduces the queue 
length by dropping packets.