QOS/WAAS recommendation

[abbas.ali]

We will be testing array-based replication between our two sites.  Our current link goes directly from the Cisco Core in Headquarters to a Brocade Edge switch with router functionality in a branch office.  The link is 20mb between two sites.

Is it possible to limit trraffic between 10.1.X.X subnet in headquarters to 10.5.X.X subnet in branch office to 5mb for example.  We also don't want to saturate the line used for IP phones.  All our internal calls terminate to the headquarters and then routed to branch office via this 20mb link.  What I am thinking is to configure QOS between two sites to explicity use 5mb for this array replication, and the rest of the bandwidth for other traffic IP phones, and other data traffic etc.

The other option is to buy either Cisco WAAS appliance or Brocade WOM or F5 LTM with WOM module to avoid any congestions.

Just wanted to know if someone has other recommendations.

Thanks

[ireneo12345]

You might consider dedicated QoS product, I used one to streamline our VOIP call b/w HQ and branch office.

1. Place QoS in HQ, we have 50mb b/w HQ and brance offce

2. The QoS is quite simple:

If VOIP server bandwidth consumption is below 10mb, all the other application could use 38mb;

If VOIP server bandwidth consumption is above 10mb, all the others could only use 20mb

I used the QoS prouct - PacketController.

Hope it helps.

[abbas.ali]

So, there is no need purchase WAAS appliance or do you recommend WAAS as well along with QOS

[Joseph W. Doherty]

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Posting

Just wanted to know if someone has other recommendations.

I would recommend QoS to insure service levels for all your traffic needs.  For example, you mention IP phones, which work well with QoS beyond just rate limiting lower priority traffic.  Using QoS bandwidth guarantees, allows excess bandwidth to be utilized, which rate limiting does not.  For example, if you cap your array traffic at 5 Mbps, it couldn't use more bandwidth even if it's available.  As long as QoS will guarantee traffic gets its minimum required bandwidth, why not let your array traffic take advantage of your excess bandwidth?

Special appliances can be nice, but you need to carefully compare their additional cost to their benefit.  Some QoS features often are provided on switches and routers without additional cost, other than the cost of maintaining the QoS configuration.