QoS policies

Prerequisites

• Enable outbound data transfer fees before using this feature.

• The resource to associate must be a dedicated Express Connect circuit port instance. Shared ports and VBR instances are not supported.

• QoS policies apply only to outbound traffic. Configure QoS for inbound traffic on the gateway device in your on-premises data center.

Overview

Express Connect QoS policies use two queue priority levels: high-priority and standard. Each queue contains one or more traffic classification rules that classify traffic into the appropriate queue. Traffic in high-priority queues is forwarded first.

Key terms:

Use cases

Voice and video communications

VoIP and real-time video conferencing are sensitive to latency and packet loss. A QoS policy prioritizes this traffic to prevent disruptions from other flows, ensuring stable delivery.

Streaming media services

Streaming video and music require continuous playback without buffering. A QoS policy raises the priority of streaming packets and allocates sufficient bandwidth.

Office productivity

Remote employees connecting over VPN need stable access to corporate resources. A QoS policy prevents other traffic from interrupting these connections.

Critical data transfer and backup

Data backup tasks consume significant bandwidth and require minimal packet loss. A QoS policy prioritizes backup traffic, reducing loss from congestion bursts.

Limitations

• You can create only one high-priority queue per QoS policy.

• Each dedicated Express Connect circuit port instance can be associated with only one QoS policy.

Quotas

Specific quotas are listed in Quotas.

Workflow

Create a QoS policy

1. Log on to the Express Connect console.

2. In the top navigation bar, select the target region.

3. In the left-side navigation pane, click QoS Policies.

4. On the QoS Policies page, click Create QoS Policy.

5. On the Create QoS Policy page, configure the following parameters and click OK.

   Parameter	Description
   Policy Name	Enter a name for the QoS policy.
   Policy description	Enter a description for the QoS policy.
   Queue Information	Queue name: Enter a name for the queue. Queue priority: Select a priority for the queue. Valid values: Premium: You can create only one high-priority queue. Basic: By default, you can create up to two standard queues. Allocated bandwidth: Set the bandwidth percentage for the standard queue. The sum of bandwidth percentages for all standard queues cannot exceed 100%. Queue description: Enter a description for the queue.
   Traffic Classification Rules	Add a traffic classification rule to the queue. Rule Name: Enter a name for the traffic classification rule. Priority: Set the rule priority. Higher values indicate higher priority. Must be unique within the QoS policy. Valid values: 1 to 9000. Protocol: Select the protocol type. Check the console for supported types. CIDR Block Type: Select the IP version. Valid values: IPv4. IPv6. Source CIDR Block: The source CIDR block of the traffic packets. Destination CIDR Block: The destination CIDR block of the traffic packets. Source Port: The source port of the traffic packets. Valid values: -1, and 1 to 65535. Port ranges are not supported. To specify a single port, use the format port/port, for example, 80/80. -1/-1 indicates no port limit. Destination Port: The destination port of the traffic packets. Valid values: -1, and 1 to 65535. Port ranges are not supported. To specify a single port, use the format port/port, for example, 80/80. -1/-1 indicates no port limit. DSCP: Differentiated Services Code Point. Valid values: 0 to 63. If you leave this parameter unset, the console displays -1, which indicates that the DSCP value is not limited. Remark DSCP: Re-marks the DSCP value of matching traffic when enabled. Rule Description: Enter a description for the traffic classification rule.

Add a queue to a QoS policy

1. Log on to the Express Connect console.

2. In the top navigation bar, select the target region.

3. In the left-side navigation pane, click QoS Policies.

4. On the QoS Policies page, click the ID of the target QoS policy.

5. On the Queue tab, click Create Queue.

6. In the Create Queue dialog box, configure the following parameters and click OK.

   Parameter	Description
   Queue name	Enter a name for the queue.
   Queue priority	Select a priority for the queue. Valid values: Premium. Basic. Note If you have already created a high-priority queue, you cannot select Premium.
   Allocated bandwidth	Enter the bandwidth percentage for the standard queue. The sum of bandwidth percentages for all standard queues cannot exceed 100%. Note This parameter is required only when you add a standard queue.
   Queue description	Enter a description for the queue.

Add a classification rule to a queue

Add a traffic classification rule to a high-priority or standard queue.

1. Log on to the Express Connect console.

2. In the top navigation bar, select the target region.

3. In the left-side navigation pane, click QoS Policies.

4. On the QoS Policies page, click the ID of the target QoS policy.

5. On the Queue tab, click the ID of the target queue. In the Traffic Classification Rules section, click Create Rule.

6. In the Create Rule dialog box, configure the following parameters and click OK.

   Rule Name	Enter a name for the traffic classification rule.
   Priority	Set the rule priority. Higher values indicate higher priority. Must be unique within the QoS policy. Valid values: 1 to 9000.
   Protocol	Select the protocol type. Check the console for supported types.
   CIDR Block Type	Select the IP version. Valid values: IPv4. IPv6.
   Source CIDR Block	The source CIDR block of the traffic packets.
   Destination CIDR Block	The destination CIDR block of the traffic packets.
   Source Port	The source port of the traffic packets. Valid values: -1, and 1 to 65535. Port ranges are not supported. To specify a single port, use the format port/port, for example, 80/80. -1/-1 indicates no port limit.
   Destination Port	The destination port of the traffic packets. Valid values: -1, and 1 to 65535. Port ranges are not supported. To specify a single port, use the format port/port, for example, 80/80. -1/-1 indicates no port limit.
   DSCP	Differentiated Services Code Point. Valid values: 0 to 63. If you leave this parameter unset, the console displays -1, which indicates that the DSCP value is not limited.
   Remark DSCP	Re-marks the DSCP value of matching traffic when enabled.
   Rule Description	Enter a description for the traffic classification rule.

Associate an Express Connect instance

1. Log on to the Express Connect console.

2. In the top navigation bar, select the target region.

3. In the left-side navigation pane, click QoS Policies.

4. On the QoS Policies page, find the target QoS policy. Associate an instance by using one of the following methods.

   • Method 1:

     1. In the Actions column, click Add Instance.

     2. On the Associate Instance page, select the target Express Connect circuit instance, and then click OK.

   • Method 2:

     1. Click the ID of the target QoS policy, and then click the Associated Instances tab.

     2. On the Associated Instances tab, click Associate Instance.

     3. On the Associate Instance page, select the target Express Connect circuit instance, and then click OK.

More operations

Disassociate an instance

1. Log on to the Express Connect console.

2. In the top navigation bar, select the target region.

3. In the left-side navigation pane, click QoS Policies.

4. On the QoS Policies page, click the ID of the target QoS policy.

5. On the Associated Instances tab, find the target Express Connect circuit instance and click Disassociate in the Actions column.

Delete a QoS policy

1. Log on to the Express Connect console.

2. In the top navigation bar, select the target region.

3. In the left-side navigation pane, click QoS Policies.

4. On the QoS Policies page, find the target QoS policy and click Delete in the Actions column.

5. In the confirmation dialog box, click OK.