Quality of Service (QoS) is a technology that manages data traffic to reduce connection latency and improve packet delivery. QoS achieves this by differentiating among various types of web traffic and prioritizing them according to their relevance. Microsoft Teams, like other communication services, benefits from QoS.
Implementing QoS for Microsoft Teams requires two key configurations, establishing a port range, and setting DSCP (Differentiated Services Code Point) markings. In this article, we will outline how you can configure these settings.
Configuring QoS port range
Port ranges in QoS allow you to differentiate between voice, video, and application sharing traffic. Microsoft Teams emits its voice and video traffic from dynamic ports in the IP stack. These ranges serve to identify which type of traffic is bound to which port.
In MS-700: Managing Microsoft Teams, configuring the port range for Microsoft Teams involves the following steps:
- Launch the Teams admin center and navigate to the ‘Meeting’ and then ‘Meeting settings’ section.
- Under the Network settings, define the port ranges for the various types of traffic emitted by Teams. Microsoft recommends using the following port ranges:
- Audio: UDP 50000-50019
- Video: UDP 50020-50039
- Sharing: UDP 50040-50059
Save the settings.
Configuring DSCP markings
DSCP (Differentiated Services Code Point) is a means of classifying and managing network traffic and of dealing with statistically significant real-time streaming multimedia. Configuring DSCP allows Teams to mark packets with specific DSCP values for real-time media traffic that is optimal for your network.
In MS-700: Managing Microsoft Teams, here are the recommended steps to configure DSCP markings:
- From Teams Admin Center > Microsoft 365 admin center > Settings > Network, enable QoS.
- Define the DSCP values for audio, video, and application sharing packets. Here are the recommended DSCP values:
| Traffic Type | DSCP Value |
|---|---|
| Audio | 46 |
| Video | 34 |
| Application Sharing | 18 |
- For Windows clients, you can use Group Policy to enforce these DSCP values across all devices. Use the following PowerShell command to create a Group Policy object:
New-NetQosPolicy -Name “Teams Audio” -DSCPAction 46 -AppPathNameMatchCondition “Teams.exe” -IPProtocolMatchCondition Both -PortStartMatchCondition 50000 -PortEndMatchCondition 50019
New-NetQosPolicy -Name “Teams Video” -DSCPAction 34 -AppPathNameMatchCondition “Teams.exe” -IPProtocolMatchCondition Both -PortStartMatchCondition 50020 -PortEndMatchCondition 50039
New-NetQosPolicy -Name “Teams Sharing” -DSCPAction 18 -AppPathNameMatchCondition “Teams.exe” -IPProtocolMatchCondition Both -PortStartMatchCondition 50040 -PortEndMatchCondition 50059
Implementing QoS settings as part of managing Microsoft Teams is a necessity to ensure optimal performance, especially when real-time traffic is involved. It’ll allow the network data packets to be neatly classified and effectively routed, thus enhancing the overall communication experience.
By understanding and correctly configuring these settings, you will be well-equipped to manage network traffic and deliver high-quality, reliable service to your Teams users. This forms an essential part of preparing for the MS-700 Managing Microsoft Teams examination, and as such, should be something that every potential examinee should look to get right. It demonstrates a direct application of the theoretical concepts, providing important insights into the practical aspect of managing Microsoft Teams.
Practice Test
QoS stands for Quality of Solution.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: QoS stands for Quality of Service, not Quality of Solution.
DSCP stands for:
- Delivering Service Control Protocol
- Digital Signal Control Protocol
- Diffused Services Control Protocol
- Differentiated Services Code Point
Answer: Differentiated Services Code Point
Explanation: DSCP, or Differentiated Services Code Point, is a field in an IP packet that enables different levels of service to be assigned to network traffic.
QoS is primarily configured to improve overall communication quality.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The main purpose of QoS is indeed to improve the quality of voice, video and unified communications.
Setting a specific port range for a QoS policy is not necessary.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Setting a specific port range helps the QoS policy to classify and manage network traffic more effectively.
QoS configurations apply only to outbound traffic.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: QoS is configured for both inbound and outbound network traffic.
DSCP values range from:
- 0 to 255
- 0 to 63
- 0 to 100
- 0 to 200
Answer: 0 to 63
Explanation: DSCP uses the 6 most significant bits in the IPv4 or IPv6 header TOS byte, hence the value can range from 0 to
QoS port range configuration is recommended for Microsoft Teams deployments.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Microsoft recommends configuring a port range when deploying Teams to ensure the best experience and prioritize Teams traffic.
DSCP markings are only configured on routers.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: DSCP markings can be configured on both routers and switches.
The higher the DSCP value, the higher the traffic priority.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: A higher DSCP value generally indicates a higher priority for network traffic.
It’s possible to set a global QoS policy with DSCP markings in Teams.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Microsoft Teams allows you to set a global QoS policy where you can specify DSCP markings and a port range for each media type.
DSCP is the only way to prioritize network traffic.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: While DSCP is one method of prioritizing network traffic, it is not the only one. Other methods include port-based prioritization and VLAN-based prioritization.
Using QoS, Teams can allocate network resources in order of precedence.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Teams can use QoS to prioritize network resources, giving more critical tasks precedence over lower-priority tasks.
QoS is not necessary when you have a fast internet connection.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: QoS is helpful irrespective of your internet speed. It organizes your traffic, ensuring critical services get the priority they need which improves the overall performance of applications.
All routers support DSCP marking.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: some older routers may not support DSCP markings. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to check your specific device’s capabilities.
It’s necessary to use both QoS and DSCP for effective network performance.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: While using both methods together can improve network performance, it is not necessary to use both. Each technique can also be effective when used individually.
Interview Questions
What is the main purpose of configuring Quality of Service (QoS) in Microsoft Teams?
The main purpose of configuring QoS is to provide preferential treatment to certain types of traffic at the expense of others. By doing so, you can improve the performance of critical applications such as Microsoft Teams.
What is DSCP and how is it related to QoS?
DSCP stands for Differentiated Services Code Point. It is a field in an IP packet that allows different levels of service to be assigned to network traffic. It’s used in QoS policy to classify network traffic and provide preferential treatment.
Which port range is recommended to configure QoS for audio in Microsoft Teams?
For audio, it is recommended to configure QoS with a port range of 50000 – 50019.
What is the recommended setting for DSCP value for audio traffic in a QoS policy for Microsoft Teams?
The recommended setting for DSCP value for audio traffic is 46 in Microsoft Teams QoS Policy.
How to configure the port range for QoS in Microsoft Teams?
You can configure the port range in the Microsoft Teams admin center by going to Meetings > Meeting settings > Network.
How does QoS help to improve Microsoft Teams performance?
QoS ensures that higher priority traffic like audio and video calls in Teams get the bandwidth they require, reducing lag and improving overall call quality.
Which port range is recommended to configure QoS for video in Microsoft Teams?
The recommended port range to configure QoS for video in Microsoft Teams is 50020 – 50039.
How to set DSCP markings for Teams using PowerShell?
You can use the New-NetQosPolicy cmdlet in PowerShell to create new QoS policies with specified DSCP markings.
What is the recommended DSCP value for video and application sharing traffic in Microsoft Teams?
The recommended DSCP value for video and application sharing traffic in Microsoft Teams is 34.
What happens if we do not configure QoS for Microsoft Teams?
If QoS is not configured, all traffic is treated equally. This can lead to performance issues, particularly on networks with high levels of congestion or where real-time applications like Teams are in use.
How can you verify if your QoS policies are working correctly in Teams?
You can verify the functionality of your QoS policies by monitoring network packet headers for DSCP values. Tools like Wireshark can be used for this task.
Can port ranges overlap in Teams QoS configuration?
No, port ranges should ideally not overlap in a given Teams QoS configuration to avoid conflict and incorrect traffic classification.
How does DSCP work in a QoS context?
DSCP works by marking packets with identifiers that routers can use to recognize and classify traffic, providing different levels of service accordingly.
What port range is recommended to configure QoS for real-time audio and video in Microsoft Teams?
For real-time audio and video, the recommended port range is 3478 – 3481.
Does Microsoft Teams automatically set DSCP values?
No, DSCP values in Teams are not set automatically. You need to manually specify values in your QoS policies.
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