Defining Classes

A class definition contains the parameters for the class, including the filters that cause packets to be placed in this class.

Figure 5-6 Classes Window

The classes are displayed as an expandable tree structure in the Class Tree, together with the interface name and the flow direction. Classes that contain other classes are displayed as folders.

The definitions are presented as a hierarchy, from left to right, in the following order:

• Interface name

• Interface flow direction

• Class, sibling class

• Child class

The parameters and values for each class are displayed in the adjacent class panel.

New classes are added as a child or sibling of the currently selected class. Use the Edit menu to choose which. A new class is created with the temporary name new. To change this name, type a new name in the Class Name field and click Apply.

The configurable parameters for a class are:

• Bandwidth

  You can specify this as a percentage, or in bits per second. You can also specify that this class is not allocated any bandwidth, by choosing Deny Access.

• Priority

  This must be a value between 1 (highest priority) and 7 (lowest priority).

• Type of Service (TOS)

  This must be a value between 0 and 255.

• Match bits

  This value specifies which Type of Service bits in the IP header will be modified with the Type of Service value. This must be specified as a bitmask.

• Borrow bandwidth

  If you select Yes, complete the Max % field with the maximum bandwidth the class is allowed to borrow.

• Directory request

  If you select Yes, complete the Flow Event field with the flow events to be generated when a new flow is detected in the class. For more information on Flows, see "Flows".

• Filter

  This determines what network traffic will be allocated to this class. If you do not specify any filters, no traffic is allocated. To create a new filter, click Create.