Comparing IPv4 end-to-end QoS capabilities with QoS techniques using RSVP and MPLS

End-to-end quality of service (QoS) is defined as the capability of a network to provide better service to selected network traffic over various network technologies such as IP, ATM or frame relay networks. Recently users are beginning to combine real-time applications such as voice and video, which have a limited tolerance for network latency and packet loss. To meet these demands, IPv4 was enhanced to handle some quality of service (QoS) aspects such as delay, throughput and packet drop with enhanced methods such as WFQ (weighted fair queuing), RSVP (resource reservation protocol) and MPLS (multiprotocol label switching). This paper uses OPNET (optimum network performance) to simulate a test network with the three QoS methods mentioned and measures parameters such as end-to-end delay, throughput and percentage of traffic lost for four traffic flows with different QoS ratings. This paper investigates the effectiveness of the three QoS methods for traffic flows with varying QoS ratings.