Chapter 1. QoS Technology Overview

In this chapter, you review the following topics:

• IP QoS Architectures

• MPLS Support for IntServ

• MPLS Support for DiffServ

• Traffic-Management Mechanisms

• QoS Signaling

This chapter provides a review of the key technology components of quality of service (QoS) in IP/MPLS networks. This review discusses the IntServ and DiffServ architectures including their relationship with MPLS. The chapter covers the traffic management mechanisms that enable QoS implementation and reviews different QoS signaling alternatives in IP/MPLS with a special focus on RSVP protocol.

This book assumes that you are already familiar with the basic concepts behind these topics. You should also be familiar with the basics of Multiprotocol Label Switching(MPLS) in general. This chapter and Chapter 2, "MPLS TE Technology Overview," serve as a technology review and quick reference for later content. Chapter 3, "Cisco QoS," covers the specifics on Cisco implementation of QoS technology. The "References" section at the end of this chapter lists sources of additional information on the topics that this chapter covers.