Enterprise Internet behavior has become increasingly complex with the diversification of network applications. Instead of blindly adding more lines, increasing bandwidth, or blaming the router for poor performance, organizations should focus on targeted management and traffic shaping鈥攗sing effective measures to control disorderly network applications.
Traffic routing can be divided into four main functions based on different application behaviors鈥擫7 Application Blocking, L7 VIP Priority Channel, L7 Application Binding, and L7 QoS Bandwidth Management.
1. Different Network Applications
Corporate work environments are flooded with various network applications, such as video streaming, stock trading, P2P downloads, IM chats, VOIP business calls, remote file transfers, and more. These work-related and non-work-related applications often use the same service ports. When non-work-related applications become too rampant, they not only affect individual productivity but also cause slow network speeds, security attacks, and insufficient bandwidth for others.
Traffic routing can identify application services and block or allow application usage, such as blocking instant messaging, BT, YouTube, Facebook, etc. Because it is based on packet identification, even if different applications use the same service port, it can effectively block non-work-related applications while allowing work-required applications, thereby improving office productivity.
2. Multiple Lines
Connecting multiple Internet lines simultaneously for bandwidth expansion and load balancing is already a common practice in businesses and educational institutions. If the lines cannot operate efficiently and utilization remains low, users will still experience lag and slow speeds no matter how many lines are added.
Specific applications need to be bound according to line characteristics. Traffic routing allows applications to be assigned to different outgoing lines. Important applications can be bound to dedicated lines with good connection quality. For example, a CRM system critical to the enterprise can be bound to the most stable fiber optic line, while general web browsing can be concentrated on ADSL lines. Even if an occasional disconnection occurs, it will not affect business operations.
3. VIP Settings
Normal enterprise network applications also need to be prioritized based on urgency and importance. Extremely important video conferences, VOIP business communications with major clients, and senior executives’ timely access to network data all require guaranteed bandwidth and stability.
Traffic routing can individually set VIP applications, VIP users, or both together. Once set as a VIP user, they enjoy the highest bandwidth priority, are not subject to QoS control, and have no bandwidth restrictions. Traffic routing ensures priority bandwidth for these VIPs and application services, preventing other applications from hogging bandwidth and causing disruptions or unavailability.
4. Bandwidth Limitation
When network bandwidth is insufficient and causes intermittent connectivity, checking the bandwidth usage of applications defined by service ports often fails to reveal which ones are unreasonably consuming resources.
Based on application identification, traffic routing enables network administrators to limit and guarantee bandwidth for application services. It separates non-essential application services from service ports for bandwidth limitation while guaranteeing bandwidth for