300-420 Question 252
Single answerA network engineer is tasked with implementing traffic shaping on an enterprise WAN link to manage bandwidth usage and ensure critical applications are prioritized. The WAN link has a 50 Mbps capacity, and the shaping policy should smooth large bursts of traffic while avoiding packet drops. Which mechanism is most appropriate for this scenario?
- A
Configure a token bucket algorithm with a configurable burst size
- B
Implement Weighted Fair Queuing (WFQ) for traffic prioritization
- C
Enable policing to enforce strict bandwidth limits
- D
Use Link Fragmentation and Interleaving (LFI) to reduce latency for small packets
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Traffic shaping is achieved by using mechanisms like a token bucket algorithm that regulate the flow of outbound traffic, allowing bursts within a configured limit and smoothing traffic beyond that limit. This prevents packet loss on the WAN link while ensuring efficient bandwidth utilization. Other options, such as policing or queuing mechanisms, serve different purposes and are not suitable for the specific requirements of shaping.
- A. Correct.
A token bucket algorithm is a key component of traffic shaping, allowing bursts of traffic within defined limits while smoothing traffic flow to avoid packet drops. This approach aligns with the scenario's requirements.
- B. Incorrect.
WFQ is a queuing mechanism for prioritizing traffic but does not handle smoothing or burst management, making it unsuitable for shaping requirements.
- C. Incorrect.
Policing enforces strict bandwidth limits and drops excess traffic, which does not align with the goal of smoothing traffic and avoiding packet drops.
- D. Incorrect.
LFI is designed to reduce latency by fragmenting large packets, but it is not associated with traffic shaping or managing bursts on a WAN link.