Differentiated

Services
Dr. Lamia Berriche

CS630: Advanced Computer Networks

Differentiated Services
 Differentiated Services (DS or Diffserv) was introduced by
the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force)
 Two fundamental changes were made to IntServ:

1. Solve scalability problem:

 The main processing was moved from the core of the network
to the edge of the network.
 The routers do not have to store information about flows.
 The applications, or hosts, define the type of service they need
each time they send a packet.

CS630: Advanced Computer Networks

Differentiated Services

 Solvethe service-type limitation problem : Per-class

service:
 The router routes the packet based on the class of
service defined in the packet, not the flow.
 Different types of classes are defined based on the needs
of applications.

CS630: Advanced Computer Networks

DS Field

 In Diffserv, each packet contains a field called the DS field.

 The value of this field is set at the boundary of the network
by the host or the first router designated as the boundary
router.
 IETF proposes to replace the existing TOS (type of
service) field in IPv4 or the class field in IPv6 by the DS
field.

CS630: Advanced Computer Networks

DS Field
 The DS field contains two subfields: DSCP and CU.
 The DSCP (Differentiated Services Code Point) is a 6-bit
subfield that defines the per-hop behavior (PHB).
 The 2-bit CU (currently unused) subfield is not currently used.
 The Diffserv capable node (router) uses the DSCP 6 bits as
an index to a table defining the packet-handling mechanism
for the current packet.

CS630: Advanced Computer Networks

Per-Hop Behavior

 TheDiffserv model defines per-hop behaviors

(PHBs) for each node that receives a packet.
 Three PHBs are defined: DE PHB, EF PHB, and AF
PHB.

CS630: Advanced Computer Networks

Per-Hop Behavior
 EF abstraction: “Premium service” with low delay, low-loss,
low jitter, and assured bandwidth.

EF traffic is often given strict priority queuing above all other
traffic classes.

AF: Assured Forwarding divides traffic into four classes

where each AF class is guaranteed some minimum resources
(capacity, buffering).
Within each class, packets are further partitioned into one of
three “drop preference” categories. Congested routers then
drop/mark based on their preference values.
CS630: Advanced Computer Networks
AF
 Assured forwarding allows the operator to provide assurance
of delivery as long as the traffic does not exceed some
subscribed rate.
 Traffic that exceeds the subscription rate faces a higher
probability of being dropped if congestion occurs.
 Balanced queue servicing algorithms such as fair queuing or
weighted fair queuing (WFQ) are likely to be used

AF1 AF2 AF3 AF4

Low
Medium
High CS630: Advanced Computer Networks
Traffic Conditioner
 To implement Diffserv, the DS node uses traffic conditioners
such as meters, markers, shapers, and droppers
 Meters:
 The meter checks to see if the incoming flow matches the
negotiated traffic profile.
 The meter also sends this result to other components.
 The meter can use several tools such as a token bucket to check
the profile.
 Marker :
 A marker can remark a packet that is using best-effort
delivery (DSCP: 000000) or down-mark a packet based on
information received from the meter.
 A marker does not up-mark a packet (promote the class).
CS630: Advanced Computer Networks
Traffic Conditioner

 Shaper:
 A shaper uses the information received from the
meter to reshape the traffic if it is not compliant
with the negotiated profile.
 Dropper:
 A dropper, which works as a shaper with no
buffer, discards packets if the flow severely
violates the negotiated profile.

CS630: Advanced Computer Networks

Traffic Conditioner

CS630: Advanced Computer Networks

CS630: Advanced Computer Networks