# Create Link Usage Profile elements

Link Usage Profile elements define which link types are preferred, avoided, or not used for specific types of traffic.

##

The link usage exceptions in the Link Usage Profile element override the link selection options in QoS Class elements. If you do not specify an exception for a particular QoS class, the connection is selected according to the link selection options in the QoS Class element.

For each link type, you can add QoS Class elements to one of the following categories:

- Prefer — The specified traffic uses the link type unless a connection with significantly higher quality is available.

  For VPN connections, links that are preferred on both ends of the connection are preferred over those that are preferred on just one end of the connection.

- Avoid — The specified traffic uses link type only if necessary.
- Do Not Use — The specified traffic must not use the link.

When you select a Link Usage Profile element in the properties of an NGFW Engine, the settings defined in the Link Usage Profile element are applied to outbound traffic that uses outbound Multi-Link.

When you select a Link Usage Profile element in the properties of a policy-based VPN, route-based VPN tunnel group, or a VPN broker domain, the settings defined in the Link Usage Profile element are applied to all tunnels in the VPN according to their link types.

For more details about the product and how to configure features, click Help or press F1.

## Steps

1. Select Configuration.
2. Browse to Other Elements > Engine Properties > Link Usage Profiles.
3. Right-click Link Usage Profiles, then select New Link Usage Profile.
4. Configure the settings, then click OK.

## Link Usage Profile Properties dialog box

Use this dialog box to specify exceptions to the default link selection options.

Option | Definition
--- | ---
Name | The name of the element.
Link Usage Exceptions | Exceptions that override the default link selection options in QoS Class elements.
Link Type | The Link Type element for which to create an exception.
Prefer | Specifies the types of traffic that use the link unless a connection with significantly higher quality is available. You can add QoS Class elements to this cell.
Avoid | Specifies the types of traffic that use the link only if necessary. You can add QoS Class elements to this cell.
Do Not Use | Specifies the types of traffic that must not use the link. You can add QoS Class elements to this cell.
Add Link Type | Adds a row to the table.
Remove Link Type | Removes the selected row from the table.
Category (Optional) | Includes the element in predefined categories. Click Select to select a category.
Comment (Optional) | A comment for your own reference.