QOS Implementation on Cisco 2960x Series Switches

[Muhammad Amin Zia]

Dear All,
I have multiple Cisco 2960X series Model (WS-C2960X-24TS-LL) LanLite switches with the upgraded IOS 15.2.6 E1. I want to implement QOS (Quality Of Service) for the application (skype for business) on them therefore need a relevant configuration for the QOS implementation. Positive responses will be highly appreciated.
Thank you,

[Flavio Miranda]

Hi

 First off, make sure you 2960 support QoS, not all of them does.

Second, keep in mind that QoS is an end to end task. Does not work enabling QoS in only one device.

 Finally, if you device supports QoS, enable auto QoS, It is easier and more suitable to someone's with little experience.

-If I helped you somehow, please, rate it as useful.-

[Muhammad Amin Zia]

thank you for your reply. can you please share the configuration template for auto QOS also please share the parameters to check that either switch is supported to QOS or not?. I am looking forward for your positive reply.

[Flavio Miranda]

Share the exactly model you have. Let´s first make sure your device supports QoS.

You can see the model by running show version command.

-If I helped you somehow, please, rate it as useful.-

[patoberli]

Check this:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2960x/software/15-0_2_EX/qos/configuration_guide/b_qos_152ex_2960-x_cg/b_qos_152ex_2960-x_cg_chapter_011.html
Also make sure that your application(s) send the correct packet marker, in case the switch doesn't recognize the application (which it doesn't on most, if not all, switches).
If you run a wireless network with WLC, make sure you have enabled AVC and set Skype for Business to higher quality (like Gold or Silver). Default for everything else is Bronze.

[Muhammad Amin Zia]

Dear My question is does lan lite switches cisco 2960 x supports QOS for skype for bussiness or not. I have not implemented yet. if it supports i want to implement (mls qos trust dscp)  and i did not find this command under interfaces. Kindly suggest.

[patoberli]

One more addition. The feature you probably want can probably solved with the 2960-X AVC-light (this is my name for the feature), while the 3850 series (and similar new 3000 series) offer the full AVC functionality, including NBAR. The 2k platform sadly lacks that feature set.

Here how the configuration would be for an 3850: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/ios/solutions_docs/avc/guide/avc-user-guide/avc_tech_overview.html

[Muhammad Amin Zia]

Thank you but i want to implement QOS DSCP on Cisco 2960-X series LAN Lite switches. I found that LAN Lite series does not support DSCP may be this is the limitation of this series.

[patoberli · Accepted solution]

Correction from my previous text, but you are still correct, QoS with DSCP is not supported on LAN Lite:

See the document https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2960x/software/15-0_2_EX/qos/configuration_guide/b_qos_152ex_2960-x_cg/b_qos_152ex_2960-x_cg_chapter_011.html which states:

The following are the restrictions for QoS:

• To use these features, the switch must be running the LAN Base image: stacking, DSCP, auto-QoS, trusted boundary, policing, marking, mapping tables, and weighted tail drop.
• Ingress queueing is not supported.
• You can configure QoS only on physical ports. VLAN-based QoS is not supported. You configure the QoS settings, such as classification, queueing, and scheduling, and apply the policy map to a port. When configuring QoS on a physical port, you apply a nonhierarchical policy map to a port.
• If the switch is running the LAN Lite image, you can configure ACLs, but you cannot attach them to physical interfaces. You can attach them to VLAN interfaces to filter traffic to the CPU.
• The switch must be running the LAN Base image to use the following QoS features:
  • Policy maps
  • Policing and marking
  • Mapping tables
  • WTD

 * Auto-QoS (and enhanced auto-QoS) is not supported on switches running the LAN Lite image.

[Muhammad Amin Zia]

Thank you for clarification. I have to get LAN Base switches to avail QOS DSCP. Thank you all of you for sorting this matter.

[Muhammad Amin Zia]

Hey please see the exact mentioned model (WS-C2960X-24TS-LL) with IOS 15.2.6 E1. Please let me know the solution.

[patoberli]

Based on the datasheet, AVC seems to be supported:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/catalyst-2960-x-series-switches/data_sheet_c78-728232.html
This means that you should configure AVC, which then should recognize Skype and can prioritize it. That is, if AVC on a Switch works the same as on Cisco Wireless (you posted your question in the Wireless forum).
Old style QoS (or what is generally known as QoS) does not recognize traffic from a software running on a PC, it only recognizes and prioritizes traffic from physical endpoints, like a phone or a telepresence system. And all the traffic of such a device will be prioritized.
So without Application Visibility and Control (AVC) the switch would mark all traffic from the PC with higher priority, exactly not what you want.
It seems such a feature is included in the Switch, but it's way more complicated to use than in Wireless (chapter 76 Configuring AVC with DNS-AS) :
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2960x/software/15_2_6_e/configuration_guide/b_1526e_consolidated_2960x_cg.pdf

I assume you attach your clients directly to the switch and not on access points?
Also don't forget to configure your firewalls, routers, ... with QoS and match the markings, in case you use different vendors.

But more importantly, why do you even want to use QoS? Are your uplinks oversaturated? With gigabit wired networking I haven't seen a case where QoS actually was useful, unless the switch uplink was very oversaturated.