Traffic Shaping in MikroTik

1. Traffic Shaping Basics

Traffic Shaping is a technique used to control the rate of traffic sent or received on a network interface. It ensures that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth while preventing less important traffic from overwhelming the network.

2. Key Concepts of Traffic Shaping

a. Queue Types

Queue types define how traffic is prioritized and managed. Common queue types include:

• Simple Queue: Manages traffic based on a single rate limit.
• FIFO (First In, First Out): Processes packets in the order they are received.
• Priority Queue: Assigns different priorities to different types of traffic.
• Round Robin: Alternates between different queues to ensure fair distribution of bandwidth.

b. Rate Limits

Rate limits set the maximum bandwidth that can be used by a specific type of traffic. This ensures that no single application can monopolize the available bandwidth.

c. Packet Marking

Packet marking involves tagging packets with specific DSCP (Differentiated Services Code Point) values. These tags are used to prioritize traffic based on its importance.

d. Policing and Shaping

Policing drops packets that exceed the specified rate limit, while shaping queues packets that exceed the limit to be sent later. Shaping is generally preferred as it ensures smoother traffic flow.

e. Class-Based Queuing

Class-Based Queuing allows you to create different classes of traffic and apply specific rules to each class. This provides granular control over how different types of traffic are managed.

3. Practical Examples

Example 1: Prioritizing VoIP Traffic

To ensure that VoIP traffic receives priority, you can create a priority queue and assign it a higher priority than other types of traffic. This ensures that voice calls are not disrupted by other network activities.

Example 2: Limiting P2P Traffic

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) applications can consume large amounts of bandwidth. By creating a rate limit for P2P traffic, you can ensure that it does not interfere with more critical applications like email and web browsing.

Example 3: Implementing Class-Based Queuing

You can create different classes for different types of traffic, such as one class for VoIP, another for web browsing, and a third for file transfers. Each class can have its own rate limit and priority, ensuring that each type of traffic is managed appropriately.

4. Insightful Value

Traffic Shaping is essential for maintaining network performance and ensuring that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth. By mastering Traffic Shaping in MikroTik, you can create a network that is both efficient and reliable, providing a smooth user experience even under heavy load.