Igmp Configuration Summary; Process Overview: Igmp Configuration - Enterasys Matrix 2G4072-52 Configuration Manual

IGMP Configuration Summary

In addition to passively monitoring IGMP query and report messages, the Matrix Series device can
also actively send IGMP query messages to learn locations of multicast switches and member hosts
in multicast groups within each VLAN.
However, note that IGMP neither alters nor routes any IP multicast packets. Since IGMP is not
concerned with the delivery of IP multicast packets across subnetworks, an external IP multicast
switch device is needed if IP multicast packets have to be routed across different subnetworks.
10.2 IGMP CONFIGURATION SUMMARY
Multicasting is used to support real-time applications such as video conferences or streaming audio.
A multicast server does not have to establish a separate connection with each client. It merely
broadcasts its service to the network, and any hosts that want to receive the multicast register with
their local multicast switch/router. Although this approach reduces the network overhead required
by a multicast server, the broadcast traffic must be carefully pruned at every multicast switch/router
it passes through to ensure that traffic is only passed to the hosts that subscribed to this service.
The Matrix Series switch device uses IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) to query for
any attached hosts who want to receive a specific multicast service. The device looks up the IP
Multicast Group used for this service and adds any port that received a similar request to that group.
It then propagates the service request on to any neighboring multicast switch/router to ensure that
it will continue to receive the multicast service.

10.3 PROCESS OVERVIEW: IGMP CONFIGURATION

Use the following steps as a guide in the IGMP configuration process:
1. Enabling / disabling IGMP (Section 10.4.1)
2. Configuring IGMP (Section 10.4.2)
10-2 Matrix DFE-Platinum and Diamond Series Configuration Guide