5.4 Traffic Policing and Shaping Explained

Key Concepts

Traffic Policing and Shaping are essential techniques in MikroTik RouterOS used to manage and control the flow of network traffic. These methods ensure that the traffic stays within predefined limits, preventing congestion and maintaining network performance.

Detailed Explanation

Traffic Policing involves monitoring the rate of traffic and taking actions such as marking or dropping packets when the traffic exceeds a specified limit. This ensures that the network remains stable and responsive by preventing excessive traffic from overwhelming the network.

Traffic Shaping, on the other hand, involves delaying packets to ensure that the traffic flow stays within predefined limits. This method maintains a consistent flow of traffic by delaying packets that exceed the rate limit, thereby preventing congestion and ensuring smooth network performance.

Examples and Analogies

Imagine a traffic officer who monitors the flow of cars on a highway. If a car is speeding, the officer might issue a ticket (marking) or even tow the car (dropping). This is similar to Traffic Policing, where excessive traffic is managed by marking or dropping packets.

Now, consider a traffic light that regulates the flow of cars at an intersection. The light ensures that cars do not arrive too quickly, preventing congestion and maintaining a steady flow. This is analogous to Traffic Shaping, where packets are delayed to ensure a consistent traffic flow.

Insightful Content

Understanding Traffic Policing and Shaping is crucial for network administrators who need to manage bandwidth efficiently. By applying these techniques, administrators can ensure that critical applications receive the necessary resources, even during periods of high network usage. This not only improves network performance but also enhances the user experience by preventing delays and dropped connections.

For example, in a corporate network, you can configure Traffic Policing to mark or drop packets from a specific user when their download rate exceeds 2 Mbps. Similarly, Traffic Shaping can be used to delay packets from a specific application to ensure that other critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth.