Configuring Bandwidth Policies

Bandwidth policies are configured as follows:

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Configuring a Bandwidth Object
•
Enabling Elemental Bandwidth Management
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Enabling a Bandwidth Object in an Access Rule
•
Enabling a Bandwidth Object in an Action Object
Configuring a Bandwidth Object
To configure a bandwidth object:
1
On the SonicWall Security Appliance, go to Firewall > Bandwidth Objects.

2
Do one of the following:
•
Click the Add button to create a new Bandwidth Object.
•
Click the Configure button of the Bandwidth Object you want to change.

3
Click the General tab.
4
In the Name box, enter a name for this bandwidth object.
5
In the Guaranteed Bandwidth box, enter the amount of bandwidth that this bandwidth object will guarantee to provide for a traffic class (in kbps or Mbps).
6
In the Maximum Bandwidth box, enter the maximum amount of bandwidth that this bandwidth object will provide for a traffic class.
* 
NOTE: The actual allocated bandwidth may be less than this value when multiple traffic classes compete for a shared bandwidth.
7
In the Traffic Priority box, enter the priority that this bandwidth object will provide for a traffic class. The highest priority is 0. The lowest priority is 7.
* 
NOTE: When multiple traffic classes compete for shared bandwidth, classes with the highest priority are given precedence.
8
In the Violation Action box, enter the action that this bandwidth object will provide (delay or drop) when traffic exceeds the maximum bandwidth setting.
•
Delay specifies that excess traffic packets will be queued and sent when possible.
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Drop specifies that excess traffic packets will be dropped immediately.
9
In the Comment box, enter a text comment or description for this bandwidth object.
Enabling Elemental Bandwidth Management

Elemental Bandwidth Management enables the SonicOS to enforce bandwidth rules and policies on each individual IP that passes through the firewall.

To enable elemental bandwidth management in a bandwidth object:
1
On the SonicWall Security Appliance, go to Firewall > Bandwidth Objects.
2
Click the Configure button of the Bandwidth Object you want to change.

3
Click the Elemental tab.
4
Select the Enable Per-IP Bandwidth Management option.
5
In the Maximum Bandwidth box, enter the maximum elemental bandwidth that can be allocated to a protocol under the parent traffic class.
* 
NOTE: When enabled, the maximum elemental bandwidth setting applies to each individual IP under the parent traffic class.
Enabling a Bandwidth Object in an Access Rule

Bandwidth objects (and their configurations) can be enabled in Access Rules.

To enable a bandwidth object in an Access Rule:
1
On the SonicWall Security Appliance, go to Firewall > Access Rules.
2
Do one of the following:
•
Click the Add button to create a new Access Rule.
•
Click the Configure button for the appropriate Access Rule.
3
Click the BWM tab.

4
To enable a bandwidth object for the egress direction, under Bandwidth Management, select the Enable Egress Bandwidth Management check box.
5
From the Select a Bandwidth Object list, select the bandwidth object you want for the egress direction.
6
To enable a bandwidth object for the ingress direction, under Bandwidth Management, select the Enable Ingress Bandwidth Management check box.
7
From the Select a Bandwidth Object list, select the bandwidth object you want for the ingress direction.
8
To enable bandwidth usage tracking, select the Enable Tracking Bandwidth Usage option.
9
Click OK.
Enabling a Bandwidth Object in an Action Object
To enable a bandwidth object in an action object:
1
On the SonicWall Security Appliance, go to Firewall > Action Objects.
2
If creating a new action object, in the Action Name list, enter a name for the action object.
3
From the Action list, select Bandwidth Management.

4
In the Bandwidth Aggregation Method list, select the appropriate bandwidth aggregation method.
5
To enable bandwidth management in the egress direction, select the Enable Egress Bandwidth Management option.
6
From the Bandwidth Object list, select the bandwidth object for the egress direction.
7
To enable bandwidth management in the ingress direction, select the Enable Ingress Bandwidth Management option.
8
From the Bandwidth Object list, select the bandwidth object for the ingress direction.
9
To enable bandwidth usage tracking, select the Enable Tracking Bandwidth Usage option.