Network World

research center:

Applications

Search / DocFinder:
Advanced search
Research Centers
Vendor Solutions
Site Resources
Special Issues

Signature SeriesEnterprise All-Stars
Enterprise All-Stars NEW

You in action
You in action

New Data Center The New Data Center: Wireless & Mobility
Wireless & Mobility NEW

The New Data Center: Server Virtualization
Server Virtualization

IP multicast

A technique for distributing bandwidth-intensive data across a WAN.

Advertisement:

IP multicast is an ideal alternative to IP broadcast and unicast transmission for these applications. Consider a specialized ticker that transmits packets to 100 traders. Unicasting would require the periodic transmission of 100 identical packets, with many packets traversing the same links. Using broadcasting, all network end stations would receive the packets, regardless of the small recipient group. But multicasting sends the same information only once and only to the intended recipients. The resulting bandwidth savings and scalability inherent in multicast provide a major benefit to network operators.

IP multicasting relies on two mechanisms: a group management protocol to establish and maintain multicast groups, and multicast routing protocols to route packets efficiently. The availability of better versions of these protocols is the primary driver behind multicast scalability.

Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) manages packet communication between endstations and their local multicast router, letting them join or leave groups. The most recent version, IGMP Version 3, supports source filtering, which ensures that endstations only receive packets from specified multicast sources, rather than all multicast sources.

When group membership is established, multicast packets, identified through a group address in the destination field of the IP header, are forwarded between routers using multicast routing protocols.

Multicast routing protocols construct distribution trees through the network and perform multicast forwarding. Distribution trees define the path that multicast traffic will take through the network to group members. These paths are based on source trees or shared trees.

From IP multicasting comes of age, Network World Tech Update, 05/20/02.

diagram

Additional resources

IP Multicast audio primer
Listen to a more detailed explanation.

IP Multicasting: Concepts, Algorithms, and Protocols
Includes definitions of the various protocols and techniques used in IP multicast.


Add a comment

NOTE: Comments are reviewed by an editor before being posted.

Your rating of this resource (with 5 the best)
1 2 3 4 5

Subject:

Your user name (what other users will see on the review):

Your real name (for our records only):

Your e-mail (ditto):

Your comments (Use a blank line to separate paragraphs):

TOP STORIES | MOST DUGG STORIES

  1. 12 myths about how the Internet works
  2. Smartphone smackdown: Storm vs. iPhone
  3. IETF: Should we ignore the Kaminsky bug?
  4. Top 10 wicked cool algorithms
  5. How to recession-proof yourself
  6. Close to tears at Cisco's shareholder meeting
  7. Ruby on Rails rolls into the enterprise
  8. Mobile phone chargers are energy vampires
  9. 10 IT security companies to watch
  10. BlackBerry's Storm: Awkward and disappointing

  11. MOST-WATCHED VIDEO:
    Toshiba's first netbook

Newsletters
Sign up for one of NWW's Application newsletters.

Web Applications
Network Optimization
Network Systems Management
Network/Systems Management News Alert
View all newsletters

Email Address:

Vendor Solutions

White Papers

True Enterprise-Quality Linux Support: Edison Group White Paper
- Oracle Corporation

Report Confirms Oracle VM Delivers Exceptional Performance, Scalability and Efficiency
- Oracle Corporation


- Oracle Corporation

More...

Special Report

Report Confirms Oracle VM Delivers Exceptional Performance, Scalability and Efficiency - Oracle Corporation
After an extensive performance benchmark evaluation, Oracle VM server virtualization software is now certified by The Tolly Group, a leading third-party information technology testing, research, and certification organization. These independent tests further demonstrate Oracle VM's leading low performance overhead versus other server virtualization solutions, even under heavy workload. Oracle VM delivers performance on par with a bare-metal server without the expense of deploying and supporting additional hardware.


Research Centers: Applications | Application Development | Applications-Standards | Applications Vendor Solutions | Collaboration | CRM / ERP | Databases | Directories | Grid Computing | Java | Messaging | .Net | RFID | SOAP | Web Services | XML | Convergence & VoIP | Convergence Regulatory | Convergence Services | Convergence Standards | Convergence VoIP Vendor Solutions | Video | IP PBX | SIP | VoIP | VoIP Services | E-Business | DNS | RFID | Supply Chain | Web security LANs & Routers | Acceleration | Gigabit Ethernet | Lans-Standards | Routers | Wireless LANs | Network Management | Application Management | Desktop Management | Management Test Patch Management | Operating Systems | Linux | NetWare | Unix | Windows Outsourcing | Managed Services | Offshoring Security | Firewalls - VPN - Intrusion | Identity management | Patch Management | Microsoft Security | Privacy | Security Standards | Spam & Phishing | Viruses & worms | Web Security | Wireless Security | Servers & Desktop | Backup-Recovery | DataCenter | Desktops | Desktop Management | Grid | Servers | Server Blades | Servers Desktops | Utility Computing | Small & Medium Business | Broadband | Telework | Handhelds & PDAs | Home Networking | Security | Storage | Compliance | Infiniband | Network-Attached Storage | SANs | Storage Management | Storage Virtualization | Virtualization | Vendor News | Bankruptcy | Earnings | Lawsuits | Layoffs | Standards | Start Ups | Vendor Markets | Education | Financial | Healthcare | HIPAA | Manufacturing | Retail | Wide Area Network | Broadband | Carriers | Frame Relay | Metro Ethernet | MPLS | Service providers | Wireless services | Wireless & Mobile | Wireless LANs | PDAs & handhelds | Wireless Security | Wireless Services | Wireless Standards | Wireless Switches | All Company Profiles