Pim Source-Specific Mode (Pim-Ssm); Implementation Information - Dell C9000 Series Networking Configuration Manual

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PIM Source-Specific Mode (PIM-

PIM source-specific mode (PIM-SSM) is a multicast protocol that forwards multicast traffic from a single

source to a subnet. In the other versions of protocol independent multicast (PIM), a receiver subscribes to a

group only. The receiver receives traffic not just from the source in which it is interested but from all sources

sending to that group. PIM-SSM requires that receivers specify the sources in which they are interested using

IGMPv3 include messages to avoid receiving unwanted traffic.

PIM-SSM is more efficient than PIM-SM because it immediately creates shortest path trees (SPT) to the source

rather than first using shared trees. PIM-SM requires a shared tree rooted at the RP because IGMPv2 receivers

do not know about the source sending multicast data. Multicast traffic passes from the source to the receiver

through the RP, until the receiver learns the source address, at which point it switches to the SPT. PIM-SSM

uses IGMPv3. Because receivers subscribe to a source and group, the RP and shared tree is unnecessary; only

SPTs are used. On Dell Networking systems, it is possible to use PIM-SM with IGMPv3 to achieve the same

result, but PIM-SSM eliminates the unnecessary protocol overhead.

PIM-SSM also solves the multicast address allocation problem. Applications must use unique multicast

addresses because if multiple applications use the same address, receivers receive unwanted traffic. However,

global multicast address space is limited. Currently GLOP/EGLOP is used to statically assign Internet-routable

multicast addresses, but each autonomous system number yields only 255 multicast addresses. For short-

term applications, an address could be leased, but no global dynamic multicast address allocation scheme

has been accepted yet. PIM-SSM eliminates the need for unique multicast addresses because routing

decisions for (S1, G1) are independent from (S2, G1). As a result, subnets do not receive unwanted traffic when

multiple applications use the same address.

Configure PIM-SMM

Enabling PIM-SSM

Use PIM-SSM with IGMP Version 2 Hosts

Implementation Information

The Dell Networking implementation of PIM-SSM is based on RFC 3569.

The Dell Networking OS reduces the number of control messages sent between multicast routers by

bundling Join and Prune requests in the same message.

PIM Source-Specific Mode (PIM-SSM)