Roles In Multicast - H3C S5600 Series Operation Manual

Operation Manual – Multicast
H3C S5600 Series Ethernet Switches
Source
Server
Figure 1-3 Information transmission in the multicast mode
Assume that Hosts B, D and E need the information. To transmit the information to the
right users, it is necessary to group Hosts B, D and E into a receiver set. The routers on
the network duplicate and distribute the information based on the distribution of the
receivers in this set. Finally, the information is correctly delivered to Hosts B, D, and E.
The advantages of multicast over unicast are as follows:
No matter how many receivers exist, there is only one copy of the same multicast
data flow on each link.
With the multicast mode used to transmit information, an increase of the number of
users does not add to the network burden remarkably.
The advantages of multicast over broadcast are as follows:
A multicast data flow can be sent only to the receiver that requires the data.
Multicast brings no waste of network resources and makes proper use of
bandwidth.

1.1.4 Roles in Multicast

The following roles are involved in multicast transmission:
An information sender is referred to as a multicast source ("Source" in
Each receiver is a multicast group member ("Receiver" in
All receivers interested in the same information form a multicast group. Multicast
groups are not subject to geographic restrictions.
Packets for the multicast group
Host A
Receiver
Receiver
Receiver
Host E
1-4
Chapter 1 Multicast Overview
Host B
Host C
Host D
Figure
Figure 1-3).
1-3).