Question

1. What are the three traditional ways to address the momentary traffic peaks? Please briefly discuss each of them. How is traffic shaping different from traditional approaches to handling momentary traffic overloads? In what two ways can traffic shaping reduce traffic?

Answer 1

Three traditional ways to address momentary traffic peaks are as below:

1. Adding more capacity: This is the most important way in order to reduce the traffic by making more space available. Though this is a costly way but it caters to the problem and reduces the momentary traffic peak formation.

2. Assigning priority level: Another way to address momentary traffic peak is to assign priority level to data packets as per their tolerance for loss or delay. For example, voice over IP frames get higher priority than emails since the speed of former is extremely high as compared to latter and it gets through quickly without any delay unlike emails. In rmaem, there is a delay of some seconds.

3. Quality of service guarantee: This is the last approach where reserved capacity is added to the traffic flow on order to ensure that the traffic flow is smooth and there is no momentary traffic peak and quality of service is guaranteed. However, other traffic gets only the capacity that is left over, even if the reserved capacity is not used.

Traffic shaping is different from traditional approaches to handling momentary traffic overloads since it is precautionary measure and is designed to avoid traffic peaks whereas traditional approaches are ways to cure the problem after it has occurred. Traffic shaping improves latency and increases the usable bandwidth.

Two ways in which traffic shaping reduces traffic:

A. Application based: In this way, traffic is first identified through fingerprint tools and then policies are shaped to control the traffic. The data must be encrypted before application.

B. Route based: In this way of traffic shaping, first information about the previous traffic and next traffic conditions is obtained and then route is optimised by shaping it in order to control the traffic.