Description:

High levels of broadcast or multicast traffic on a network can result in poor network performance and even network congestion. The feature Storm Control allows the restriction of broadcast, multicast and unicast packets. However, usually only broadcast and multicast packets are restricted.

This article describes how broadcast and multicast traffic can be restricted using Storm Control.

Rquirements:

• GS-3xxx series switch
• LCOS SX as of version 4.00 Rel (download latest version)
• Knowledge of the regular broadcast or multicast data traffic on the network, i.e. through monitoring and analysis of the data traffic (e.g. via SNMP)
• Any web browser for accessing the webinterface of the GS-3xxx

Procedure:

1) Configuring Storm Control on GS-3xxx series switches:

Open the configuration for the device in a web browser and go to the menu item QoS → Storm Control.

1.1) Global restrictions on broadcast and multicast data traffic:

1.1.1) For the Global Storm Policer Configuration, modify the following parameters:

The Rate combines with the Unit to form the maximum permissible data throughput for the associated packet type. The stored values apply globally, i.e. for all ports.

• Enable: Set a check mark in the Enable box if the traffic under Frame Type is to be restricted.
• Rate: Enter a value to which the data traffic should be restricted.
• Unit: From the drop-down menu, select the appropriate Unit (in this example fps = frames per second, i.e. packets/second).

1.1.2) Implement the changes by clicking Apply.

1.2) Restricting broadcast and multicast traffic on individual switch ports:

1.2.1) For the Port Storm Policer Configuration, modify the following parameters:

The Rate combines with the Unit to form the maximum permissible data throughput for the associated packet type. Values can be set individually for each port.

• Enable: Set a check mark in the Enable box, if the traffic under Frame Type is to be restricted.
• Rate: Enter a value to which the data traffic should be restricted.
• Unit: From the drop-down menu, select the appropriate Unit (in this example kbps = kilobits per second).

1.2.2) Implement the changes by clicking Apply.

2) Save the configuration as the startup configuration:

2.1) Save the configuration as the startup configuration by clicking the red floppy disk icon at top-right.

Alternatively, you can save the configuration as the startup configuration in the menu Maintenance → Configuration → Save startup-config under File name by marking the item startup-config and then clicking Save Configuration.

2.2) This concludes the configuration of Storm Control on the GS-3xxx.