Type of Service Control

The header of an IP packet contains a Type of Service (TOS) field. This field was originally designed to be used by the upper layers to provide information to the Internet layer to optimize the packet route. It is used in both routing and queuing algorithms.

Solaris Bandwidth Manager has two available TOS modes, TOS match and TOS mark. In TOS match mode, the TOS value is used to classify the packet. In TOS mark mode, the packet is classified using other information, and a TOS value inserted, replacing any existing TOS value. The TOS value inserted is configured for the class. TOS match and TOS match mode can be used simultaneously. In this case, the TOS value is used to classify the packet and is then overwitten with a new TOS value.

Use of the TOS value by Solaris Bandwidth Manager is optional. See "Interface Definition" for information about setting the mode to determine whether the TOS value is used, and in which mode. If you are not using a TOS mode, the value of the TOS field is left unchanged.