Understanding DSCP Rules in IDP Policies

Differentiated Services code point (DSCP) is an integer value encoded in the 6-bit field defined in IP packet headers. It is used to enforce class-of-service (CoS) distinctions. CoS allows you to override the default packet forwarding behavior and assign service levels to specific traffic flows.

You can configure DSCP value as an action in an IDP policy rule. You first define the traffic by defining match conditions in the IDP policy and then associate a DiffServ marking action with it. Based on the DSCP value, behavior aggregate classifiers set the forwarding class and loss priority for the traffic deciding the forwarding treatment the traffic receives.

All packets that match the IDP policy rule have the CoS field in their IP header rewritten with the DSCP value specified in the matching policy. If the traffic matches multiple rules with differing DSCP values, the first IDP rule that matches takes effect and this IDP rule then applies to all traffic for that session.

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