For business customers using NBN Enterprise Ethernet (EE), traffic shaping is crucial for ensuring network performance, optimising bandwidth usage, and maintaining compliance with service specifications.

1. What is Traffic Shaping?

Traffic shaping is a network management technique that regulates the flow of data packets entering or leaving a network. It ensures that the network remains within the parameters of the Committed Information Rate (CIR) and Excess Information Rate (EIR), as specified by the service provider. Proper traffic shaping helps businesses maximize the efficiency of their connection while preventing network congestion and maintaining service quality.

2. The Importance of Traffic Shaping for NBN EE

When using NBN EE services, businesses must shape their traffic correctly before it enters the NBN Network Termination Device (NTD). Incorrectly managed traffic can lead to packet loss, reduced throughput, and potential service interruptions. By configuring their network devices to align with Capti’s NBN EE requirements, businesses can ensure consistent performance and compliance with the service levels agreed upon.

3. Traffic Shaping Requirements for NBN EE

Capti’s NBN EE services specify that businesses must shape the traffic leaving their router (egress) and entering the NBN NTD according to the ordered bandwidth and burst parameters. Here are the key requirements:

  • Layer 2 Information Rate (L2 IR): Traffic must match the bandwidth ordered. It is critical that businesses set the Committed Burst Size (CBS) and Excess Burst Size (EBS) values to align with these specifications.
  • CBS and EBS Settings: For each CIR (Committed Information Rate) and EIR (Excess Information Rate) specification:
    • CBS is set at 10ms.
    • EBS is also set at 10ms.

Ensuring these values match the NBN EE specifications helps manage traffic effectively, allowing for optimized data flow while avoiding penalties such as packet drops.

4. CIR and EIR: Understanding the Bandwidth Profiles

NBN EE services offer different bandwidth options under the Committed Information Rate (CIR) and Excess Information Rate (EIR) models:

  • CIR (Committed Information Rate): This is the guaranteed bandwidth level that the service provider commits to deliver. It is crucial for time-sensitive and critical applications like VoIP, video conferencing, and cloud-based services where consistent performance is required.
  • EIR (Excess Information Rate): This is the best-effort bandwidth beyond the CIR. It provides additional bandwidth when the network is not congested, allowing businesses to benefit from higher speeds when available. However, EIR traffic is not guaranteed and may be dropped if network resources are constrained.

Businesses must configure their traffic to stay within the CIR for critical applications and use EIR for less critical or bursty traffic. Properly managing these traffic types ensures that critical services maintain high performance even during peak usage times.

5. How to Implement Traffic Shaping: Best Practices

To optimize NBN EE services, businesses need to implement traffic shaping effectively. Here’s how to configure your network for optimal performance:

a) Configure Router Egress Settings

Ensure that your router or firewall is configured to shape outbound traffic to match the CIR and EIR settings specified by Capti’s NBN EE service:

  • Set CIR as the baseline: Configure your egress policy to prioritize CIR traffic. This ensures that critical traffic such as voice, video, and essential business applications receive the guaranteed bandwidth.
  • Allow for EIR bursts: Adjust the settings to accommodate EIR traffic when available, setting the burst size according to the CBS and EBS requirements (10ms each). This provides the flexibility to utilize additional bandwidth during non-peak periods.

b) Use Quality of Service (QoS) Policies

Applying QoS policies helps prioritize traffic within your network. Use QoS to:

  • Mark Critical Traffic: Ensure that critical traffic such as VoIP and real-time video conferencing is prioritized using the appropriate tags (e.g., 802.1p tagging for PCP values) so it is consistently delivered within the CIR limits.
  • Segregate Non-Critical Traffic: Assign lower priority to less critical or bursty traffic, which can use the EIR. This prevents non-essential traffic from competing with and affecting the performance of priority services.

6. Aligning CoS and PCP Values for NBN EE Traffic Management

When shaping traffic, it is crucial that businesses properly align Class of Service (CoS) markings using Priority Code Points (PCP) at the NNI. Capti’s NBN EE uses PCP values to map traffic classes at the NNI, ensuring that the appropriate bandwidth profile is applied:

  • High CoS: Assign a PCP value of 5 for CIR traffic to guarantee it remains prioritized.
  • Medium CoS: Use PCP values of 3 (for CIR) and 2 (for EIR) to balance guaranteed and best-effort traffic.
  • Low CoS: Assign a PCP value of 0 for EIR-only traffic.

It’s important to configure these markings correctly. If traffic is not correctly marked before it reaches the NNI, it may be discarded, leading to performance issues.

7. Traffic Shaping Challenges and Solutions

Despite proper configuration, businesses may face challenges in implementing traffic shaping effectively. Here are some common issues and solutions:

  • Incorrect CoS Markings: If traffic is not marked correctly before entering the NBN NTD, packets may be dropped. Ensure that your devices are configured to mark packets with the correct PCP values based on the traffic’s priority level.
  • EIR Overload: Over-relying on EIR may cause performance issues if the network becomes congested. Limit the use of EIR for non-essential services to ensure that CIR traffic is unaffected during peak times.
  • Configuration Mismatches: Ensure that the router’s configuration aligns precisely with Capti’s NBN EE specifications for CIR, EIR, CBS, and EBS. Regular audits and testing of network settings can help prevent misconfigurations.

8. Monitoring and Adjusting Traffic Shaping Policies

To maintain optimal performance, businesses should continuously monitor their network traffic and adjust policies as needed:

  • Use Network Monitoring Tools: Employ monitoring tools that provide real-time data on bandwidth usage, traffic types, and CoS distribution. This helps identify any discrepancies or adjustments needed to optimize performance.
  • Adjust for Changing Business Needs: As business requirements evolve (e.g., adding new services or increasing bandwidth), update traffic shaping policies to accommodate these changes without impacting critical services.

Conclusion

Traffic shaping is an essential aspect of managing NBN Enterprise Ethernet services effectively. By correctly configuring routers, setting appropriate