4-5 Queue Meters Explained

Queue Meters in MikroTik RouterOS are advanced tools used to monitor and control traffic flow based on predefined criteria. They allow you to measure the rate of traffic and take actions based on whether the traffic exceeds or stays within specified limits. Here, we will delve into the key concepts related to 4-5 Queue Meters.

1. Queue Meters Overview

Queue Meters are used to monitor the rate of traffic passing through a specific interface or queue. They can be configured to trigger actions such as marking packets, dropping packets, or shaping traffic when certain thresholds are exceeded. This helps in maintaining network performance and ensuring that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth.

2. Rate Limiting

Rate Limiting is a fundamental concept in Queue Meters. It involves setting a maximum rate for the traffic passing through a specific interface or queue. If the traffic exceeds this rate, the Queue Meter can take actions such as marking packets with a lower priority or dropping excess packets. This ensures that the network remains stable and responsive.

For example, you can configure a Queue Meter to limit the upload rate for a specific user to 1 Mbps. If the user's upload traffic exceeds this limit, the Queue Meter can mark the packets to be processed later, ensuring that other users' traffic is not affected.

3. Marking Packets

Marking Packets is another key feature of Queue Meters. When the traffic exceeds the predefined rate, the Queue Meter can mark the packets with a specific Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) value. This marking helps in prioritizing or deprioritizing the traffic based on its importance.

For instance, in a corporate network, you can configure a Queue Meter to mark VoIP packets with a high DSCP value when the traffic exceeds a certain rate. This ensures that VoIP calls remain clear and uninterrupted, even during periods of high network usage.

4. Dropping Packets

Dropping Packets is an action that can be triggered by Queue Meters when the traffic exceeds the specified rate. This involves discarding packets that exceed the rate limit, thereby preventing congestion and maintaining network performance.

For example, in a network with limited bandwidth, you can configure a Queue Meter to drop excess packets from a specific user when their download rate exceeds 2 Mbps. This ensures that the network remains stable and responsive for other users.

5. Shaping Traffic

Shaping Traffic involves delaying packets to ensure that the traffic flow stays within predefined limits. Queue Meters can be configured to shape traffic by delaying packets that exceed the rate limit, thereby maintaining a consistent flow of traffic.

For instance, in a network with a bandwidth limit of 10 Mbps, you can configure a Queue Meter to shape the traffic by delaying packets that exceed this limit. This ensures that the network remains stable and responsive, even during periods of high traffic.

Understanding these concepts is essential for effectively managing and optimizing network performance using MikroTik RouterOS. By mastering Queue Meters, you can ensure that your network operates efficiently, securely, and reliably.