In this chapter, we’ll see the basics of multicast.
First, let’s talk about what multicast is… well in simple
words we can say answer multicast is sending a message from a single source
to selected multiple destinations.
There are three types of traffic that we can choose from for
our networks:
Unicast
Broadcast
Multicast
Unicast If we want to
send a message from one source to one destination, we use unicast.
broadcast If we want to send a message from one source to everyone, we use broadcast.
multicast if we want to send a message from one source to a group of receivers? Then we use multicast.
Why do we want to use multicast instead of unicast or broadcast?
Multimedia using Unicast
The application sends one copy of each packet to every client. Used when only a few clients need to access the application. If the message has to be sent to a large group, the same information
has to be carried multiple times, even on the same link. Bandwidth usage is proportional to number of users. Routers make individual routing decisions based on each pair
of source and destination.
Multimedia traffic using broadcast
The application sends only a copy of each packet using a broadcast.
All end hosts need to process even if they don’t want to. Not recommended implantation for applications delivering
data, voice, or video to multiple receivers.
Multimedia traffic using multicast
The most efficient solution – in between broadcast and
unicast. The server sends one copy of each packet to a special address
that represents multiple clients. The server sends out a single data stream to multiple clients.
Advantage of multicast
It saves bandwidth and controls network traffic by forcing
the network to replicate packets only when necessary. Reduce network bandwidth
consumption and host processing. Control network traffic and reduce server and
CPU loads.
Multicast Components
first, we use a designated range of IP addresses that is used for multicast traffic. We use the class D range for this: 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255. These addresses are only used as destination addresses, but not as source addresses. The source IP address will be the device that is sending the multicast traffic.
we use IGMP ( internet group management protocol ) for hosts to tell the routers when and which multicast traffic they want to receive.
To help the switch figure out where to forward multicast traffic, we can use IGMP Snooping.
we use a multicast routing protocol: why? we see in the next chapter.
- DVMRP (Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol)
- MOSPF (Multicast Open Shortest Path First)
- PIM (Protocol Independent Multicast)
how does multicast work?
step 1- Multicast server application configured with layer 3
address (class- D)
step 2- Multicast application installed on all the hosts.
step 3- Indicate the router that they want to receive multicast traffic
for the group (IGMP)
step 4- Multicast routing protocol forward multicast server. (PIM)
step 5- Calculate layer 2 multicast MAC address (IGMP Snooping/ CGMP)
This is basis of multicast,
Thanks for reading
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