1 Multicast Overview ····································································································································1-1

Introduction to Multicast ··························································································································1-1

Comparison of Information Transmission Techniques····································································1-1

Features of Multicast ·······················································································································1-4

Common Notations in Multicast·······································································································1-5

Advantages and Applications of Multicast·······················································································1-5

Multicast Models ·····································································································································1-5

Multicast Architecture······························································································································1-6

Multicast Addresses ························································································································1-7

Multicast Protocols ························································································································1-10

Multicast Packet Forwarding Mechanism ·····························································································1-12

Table of Contents