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QoS pilot will be tested until the end of the year

RNP has formed a pilot network in order to test the quality of service (QoS). Its main purposes are to get experience regarding the implementation of differentiated services in the routers of RNP2 backbone and to gather knowledge in terms of QoS architecture. The testing stage should go on until the end of 2001, when a report will be made serving as the basis for a proposal which will make it possible to extend QoS to all RNP2.

The implantation of quality of service is fundamental to the execution of advanced applications, when it is necessary to make sure that the data transmission is made without delays or losses.

The greatest emphasis of the QoS project has been given to real-time multimedia applications such as videoconference, VoIP and video/audio streaming. To the definition of other applications called elastic or adaptive, such as e-mail, Web and FTP, statistical data on the use of the band by the application/protocol will be used as an accessory resource.

At first, the topology chosen for the pilot network included the Points of Presence (PoPs) and RNP's units in Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro and Distrito Federal. Later this year, the PoPs in São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul became able to participate in the tests. Although punctual configurations of QoS have been made in the backbone, due to demands to carry out a number of experiments, the tests have officially begun at the end of August.

In order to make public information related to the QoS project, a new page was launched on RNP's website - http://www.rnp.br/qos/ (in Portuguese). This page brings technical information about the architecture, the tools and the evaluation parameters used, in addition to some useful links.

For more information: qos-info@rnp.br

[RNP, 11.23.2001]