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Priority output queuing

Priority output queuing, also known as priority queuing, is a routing queuing method at a given output interface which allows four priorities of traffic---high, normal, medium, and low. As traffic comes into the router, it is assigned to one of the four output queues based on various characteristics, such as packet size and interface type. Packets on the highest-priority queue are transmitted first. When that queue empties, traffic on the next highest-priority queue is transmitted, and so on. This mechanism assures that during congestion, the highest-priority data does not get delayed by lower-priority traffic. However, if the traffic sent to a given interface exceeds the bandwidth of that interface, lower-priority traffic can experience significant delays.

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Priority output queuing