DSCP Options in Network Tests

The ThousandEyes path visualization shows changes to a DSCP value for links represented in the path visualization of these test results:

  • Network (Agent-to-Server)

  • Network (Agent-to-Agent)

  • Voice (RTP Stream)

Within the Path Visualization view, choose Info under the Selecting category to view any DSCP changes in your network tracing.

In this example, clicking "3 links with DSCP changes" (1) will highlight link(s) where these occurred and will detail the specifics of the change (2). A change indicates how traffic is reprioritized.

More About DSCP

A Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) is a value found in an IP packet header which is used to request a level of priority for delivery (Defined in RFC 2474 https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2474.txt). It is one of the Quality of Service management tools used in router configuration to protect real-time and high priority data applications. The DSCP value marks packets priority level for network device transmission and identifies its class type. A class type defines whether a packet is being used for data streaming, telephony and other uses. A high priority value helps expedite packet transmission to support more real-time dependent transmissions. DSCP markings can help reduce congestion and determine the priority of a packet to be dropped before a queue becomes full. Routers that are configured with QoS policies that honor DSCP will prioritize the processing and forwarding of queued packets based upon classification. Many networks do not honor differentiated services and may change the DSCP value to 0 (best effort) from another value. A change will be illustrated if the DSCP value differs between nodes in the path visualization. Below is a list of common DSCP values.

Common Defined Per-Hop Behaviors

  • Default Forwarding (DF) PHB — which is typically best-effort traffic

  • Expedited Forwarding (EF) PHB — Expedited Forwarding – high priority, higher drop probability. dedicated to low-loss, low-latency traffic

  • Assured Forwarding (AF) PHB — Gives assurance of delivery under prescribed conditions. The Assured Forwarding PHB guarantees a certain amount of bandwidth to an AF class and allows access to extra bandwidth, if available. (See list below for those specifics)

  • CS PHBs — Class Selector network control. These are used for backward compatibility with the IP precedence specification in the former Type of Service (ToS) field.

NameDecimal Value (dscpId)Comments

Best Effort (DSCP 0)

0

Class 0, default (routine)

CS1 (DSCP 8)

8

Class 1 – similar to ToS Precedence (priority)

CS2 (DSCP 16)

16

Class 2 – similar to the ToS Precedence (immediate)

CS3 (DSCP 24)

24

Class 3 – similar to the ToS Precedence (flash)

CS4 (DSCP 32)

32

Class 4 – similar to the ToS Precedence (flash override)

CS5 (DSCP 40)

40

Class 5 – similar to the ToS Precedence (critical)

CS6 (DSCP 48)

48

Class 6 – similar to the ToS Precedence (Internetwork Control)

CS7 (DSCP 56)

56

Class 7 – similar to the ToS Precedence (Network Control)

AF11 (DSCP 10)

10

Assured Forwarding (AF) Class 1 – low drop precedence

AF12 (DSCP 12)

12

Assured Forwarding (AF) Class 1 – medium drop precedence

AF13 (DSCP 14)

14

Assured Forwarding (AF) Class 1 – high drop precedence

AF21 (DSCP 18)

18

Assured Forwarding (AF) Class 2 – low drop precedence

AF22 (DSCP 20)

20

Assured Forwarding (AF) Class 2 – medium drop precedence

AF23 (DSCP 22)

22

Assured Forwarding (AF) Class 2 – high drop precedence

AF31 (DSCP 26)

26

Assured Forwarding (AF) Class 3 – low drop precedence

AF32 (DSCP 28)

28

Assured Forwarding (AF) Class 3 – medium drop precedence

AF33 (DSCP 30)

30

Assured Forwarding (AF) Class 3 – high drop precedence

AF41 (DSCP 34)

34

Assured Forwarding (AF) Class 4 – low drop precedence

AF42 (DSCP 36)

36

Assured Forwarding (AF) Class 4 – medium drop precedence

AF43 (DSCP 38)

38

Assured Forwarding (AF) Class 4 – high drop precedence

EF PHB (DSCP 46)

46

Expedited Forwarding – high priority, higher drop probability

Voice Admit (DSCP 44)

44

Expedited Forwarding – high priority, higher drop probability

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