What is a primary characteristic of a QoS-enabled network?

A primary characteristic of a Quality of Service (QoS)-enabled network is the ability to prioritize traffic. This functionality is crucial because it allows the network to manage and allocate bandwidth effectively among various types of traffic, ensuring that critical applications requiring higher performance receive the necessary resources. For example, in a business environment where video conferencing may be occurring simultaneously with email traffic, QoS can ensure that video packets are given precedence, resulting in a smoother and more reliable video call experience.

While high reliability and low latency are also important aspects of a QoS-enabled network, the defining feature that sets QoS apart is its traffic prioritization capability. This prioritization addresses different classes of service, helping to maintain performance standards and meet the specific needs of applications, particularly those sensitive to delays, such as voice and video applications. Thus, when all of these characteristics—high reliability, low latency, and traffic prioritization—are present, they collectively enhance the overall effectiveness of the network, justifying the selection of the option that includes all these elements.