Overview
Traffic shaping (also known as 'packet shaping') smooths out traffic bursts by buffering excess packets and sending them later. This results in a more predictable and consistent flow of data.
Key Characteristics
- Buffering: Uses memory to hold packets that exceed the rate limit.
- Effect: Reduces packet loss but increases latency and jitter.
- Use Case: Often used on outgoing interfaces to prevent overwhelming a slower link (e.g., a LAN-to-WAN connection).