USG FLEX H Series - Bandwidth Management

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USG FLEX H Series - Bandwidth Management

Bandwidth management is a crucial aspect of network administration, allowing you to allocate and limit bandwidth usage to ensure optimal network performance and prevent congestion. In firmware version 1.20 for the USG FLEX H Series, several enhancements have been made to bandwidth management. This article provides an overview of these features and explains how to configure and utilize them effectively.

Bandwidth Management Overview

Concept

Bandwidth management involves creating policies that define how much bandwidth specific types of traffic can consume. When traffic matches a policy, it is subject to rate limiting based on the policy's settings.

Shared Criteria

In version 1.20, USG FLEX H Series supports shared bandwidth management. Shared criteria mean that the total bandwidth limit is distributed among all clients matching the policy. For example, if you set a limit of 5 Mbps for a subnet, the total bandwidth available to all clients in that subnet is 5 Mbps.

Configuration Steps

• Navigate to Bandwidth Management:
  • Go to the Network section in your firewall’s configuration interface.
  • Select Bandwidth Management (BWM).
    
• Create a Bandwidth Management Policy:
  • Click on the Add button to create a new policy.
  • Define the policy name and criteria.

Viewing Bandwidth Management Logs

Bandwidth management events are logged for monitoring and troubleshooting purposes.

• Navigate to Event Logs:
  • Go to Logs and Reports > Event Logs.
    
• Filter Logs:
  • Look for the BWM category to view events related to bandwidth management.
  • The logs will show the name of the policy and other relevant details.

Limitations and Workarounds

Per Client and Per User Bandwidth Management

Currently, the USG FLEX H Series supports only shared bandwidth management. For more granular control, such as per client or per user bandwidth management, you need to create individual objects for each client or user and apply separate policies.

Conclusion

The bandwidth management enhancements in USG FLEX H Series firmware version 1.20 offer improved control over network traffic by allowing administrators to define and enforce bandwidth limits. While the current version supports only shared criteria, it provides a robust foundation for managing bandwidth effectively.