UniFi QoS: Optimizing Network Performance

UniFi’s Quality of Service (QoS) solution is a gateway-based system designed to manage network traffic by deprioritizing nonessential data and optimizing overall performance. For users leveraging the latest Zone-Based Firewall available in UniFi Network 9.0 and later:

1. Navigate to Settings > Routing > QoS.
2. Under QoS Rules, select Create Rule.
3. Select the Action that best suits your needs:
   • Prioritize: Moves selected traffic into a higher-priority queue to improve performance.
   • Prioritize and Limit: Moves selected traffic into a higher-priority queue and enforces a maximum upload/download speed.
   • Limit: Restricts selected traffic to a specific upload/download speed.
4. Customize the rule for your desired outcome.
   • Source: Choose a Network, Device, etc.
   • Destination: Choose a specific App, Domain, IP, or Region.
5. Click Add.

Once added, your rule will appear in the table and take effect immediately.

Important Considerations for QoS Actions

• This QoS mechanism is applied only at the gateway level.
• Enabling any QoS rule disables offloading on the Gateway, reducing speeds across all clients and networks—not just those affected by the rule.

The performance impact depends on the gateway model and network conditions. When routing above 1Gbps, enabling QoS can result in a 25-45% adjustment in performance, so users should consider their specific bandwidth needs when applying QoS settings. Example QoS Configuration

• Bandwidth Limit Devices: Restrict specific devices or applications from consuming excessive bandwidth.
  • Objective: Limit
  • Source: Select Device
  • Destination: Select App (e.g., Windows Update)
  • Download/Upload Limits: 10 Mbps each
  • Schedule: Always
• Prioritize Streaming Services: Improve video call or streaming stability.

• • Objective: Prioritize
  • Source: Select Device (e.g., work laptop)
  • Destination: Select App (e.g., Zoom, Netflix) or Category (Media Streaming Service)

To manage and optimize your network traffic prior to migrating to a Zone-Based Firewall:

1. Navigate to Settings > Security > Traffic & Firewall Rules.
2. Create a Simple rule.
3. Create a rule for your desired outcome:
   • Action: Select “Speed Limit”
   • Source: Choose a Network, Device, etc.
   • Destination: Choose a specific App, Domain, IP, or Region.
4. Once added, your rule will appear in the table and take effect immediately.

Example Configuration

• Bandwidth Limit Devices: Restrict specific devices or applications from consuming excessive bandwidth.
  • Action: Speed Limit
  • Source: Select Devices
  • Destination: Select an app like Windows Update
  • Download/Upload Limits: 10 Mbps each
  • Schedule: Always