SYSTEM FOR BANDWIDTH ALLOCATION IN A COMPUTER NETWORK

A system for classifying, monitoring, controlling and otherwise managing and allocating bandwidth of a network to data streams. A method for allocating bandwidth of a data network to a plurality of data streams is provided. The method comprises specifying apportionment of the bandwidth to a plurality of data classes. Receiving a plurality of data streams wherein each data stream has an associated data class. Negotiating a transfer rate for each data stream, wherein the transfer rate is limited to the bandwidth apportioned to the data class associated with each data stream and transmitting the data streams on the data network at the negotiated transfer rates.