Chapter 19: Configuring Multicast; Using Multicast In Your Network; Implementing Multicast - Enterasys C5G124-24 Configuration Manual

This chapter describes the multicast features supported by the Enterasys fixed switches.
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Using Multicast in Your Network

Configuring IGMP
Configuring DVMRP
Configuring PIM-SM
Using Multicast in Your Network
Multicast is a "one source to many destinations" method of simultaneously sending information
over a network using the most efficient delivery strategy over each link. Only the end stations that
explicitly indicate a need to receive a given multicast stream will receive it.
Applications that take advantage of multicast include video conferencing, streaming video,
corporate communications, distance learning, and distribution of software, stock quotes, and
news.
Multicast technology includes the following protocols:
• Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) for IPv4 on all supported Enterasys multicast
devices
• Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol (DVMRP)
• Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM)
Unlike unicast and broadcast, multicast uses network infrastructure efficiently because only one
copy of the source traffic is sent throughout the network, going only to interested receivers,
minimizing the burden placed on the sender, network, and receiver. The routers in the network
take care of replicating the packet, where necessary, to reach multiple receivers. If a router decides
that there are no interested users downstream from itself, it prunes the stream back to the next
router. Thus, unwanted streams are not sent to the pruned routers, saving bandwidth and
preventing unwanted packets from being sent.

Implementing Multicast

You can implement the IGMP, DVMRP, and PIM-SM multicast protocols on Enterasys devices
using simple CLI commands as described in this document. A basic configuration process
involves the following tasks:
1. Configuring the VLANs and IP interfaces on which you want to transmit multicast.
Configuring Multicast
Fixed Switch Configuration Guide 19-1
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