Manual Chapter : About Traffic Classes

Applies To:

Show Versions Show Versions

BIG-IP AAM

  • 13.1.5, 13.1.4, 13.1.3, 13.1.1, 13.1.0, 13.0.1, 13.0.0

BIG-IP APM

  • 13.1.5, 13.1.4, 13.1.3, 13.1.1, 13.1.0, 13.0.1, 13.0.0

BIG-IP Link Controller

  • 13.1.5, 13.1.4, 13.1.3, 13.1.1, 13.1.0, 13.0.1, 13.0.0

BIG-IP Analytics

  • 13.1.5, 13.1.4, 13.1.3, 13.1.1, 13.1.0, 13.0.1, 13.0.0

BIG-IP LTM

  • 13.1.5, 13.1.4, 13.1.3, 13.1.1, 13.1.0, 13.0.1, 13.0.0

BIG-IP AFM

  • 13.1.5, 13.1.4, 13.1.3, 13.1.1, 13.1.0, 13.0.1, 13.0.0

BIG-IP PEM

  • 13.1.5, 13.1.4, 13.1.3, 13.1.1, 13.1.0, 13.0.1, 13.0.0

BIG-IP DNS

  • 13.1.5, 13.1.4, 13.1.3, 13.1.1, 13.1.0, 13.0.1, 13.0.0

BIG-IP ASM

  • 13.1.5, 13.1.4, 13.1.3, 13.1.1, 13.1.0, 13.0.1, 13.0.0
Manual Chapter

About traffic classes

The BIG-IP® system includes a feature known as traffic classes. A traffic class is a feature that you can use when implementing optimization profiles for modules such as the Application Acceleration Manager™.

A traffic class allows you to classify traffic according to a set of criteria that you define, such as source and destination IP addresses. In creating the traffic class, you define not only classification criteria, but also a classification ID. Once you have defined the traffic class and assigned the class to a virtual server, the system associates the classification ID to each traffic flow. In this way, the system can regulate the flow of traffic based on that classification.

When attempting to match traffic flows to a traffic class, the system uses the most specific match possible.

Creating a traffic class

By creating a traffic class and assigning it to a virtual server, you can classify traffic according to a set of criteria that you specify.

  1. On the Main tab, click Local Traffic > Traffic Class .
  2. Click the Create button.
  3. In the Name field, type a name for the traffic class.
    Traffic class names are case-sensitive and can contain letters, numbers, and underscores (_) only.
  4. In the Classification field, type a text string that the system applies to data flows that match the traffic-class criteria.
    When values from a traffic flow match the criteria specified on this screen, the system tags the traffic flow with this classification value.
  5. In the Source Address field, type an IP address for the system to match against incoming traffic.
  6. For the Source Mask field, type a network mask for the specified source address.
  7. For the Source Port setting, type a port number in the field or select a port name from the list.
    If you select a port name from the list, the system displays the corresponding port number in the text field.
  8. In the Destination Address field, type an IP address for the system to match against the traffic destination.
  9. For the Destination Mask field, type a network mask for the specified destination address.
  10. For the Destination Port setting, type a port number in the field or select a port name from the list.
    If you select a port name from the list, the system displays the corresponding port number in the text field.
  11. For the IP Protocol setting, type a protocol number in the field or select a protocol name from the list.
    If you select a protocol name from the list, the system displays the corresponding protocol number in the text field.
  12. Click the Finished button.
After you define the traffic class and assign the class to a virtual server, the system associates the corresponding classification ID to traffic flows that match the specified criteria. In this way, the system can regulate the flow of traffic based on that classification.