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| − | Multicast is one of three ways you can use the IP protocol. | + | {{wikipedia|Multicast|Source-specific multicast}} |
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| − | With multicast one computer sends traffic to [http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/ito_doc/ipmulti.htm#xtocid4| a special IP address]. Other people can then choose to register to this IP address and then receive the traffic. It's advantage is that the server can send a single datastream, and then an endless number of clients can receive this data. This avoids having to send the same data on a single network connection. (The negotiation process to setup this connection is called the [[IGMP]] protocol.)
| + | Multicast, in contrast to [[unicast]], sends a message to multiple clients. Source-specific multicast (SSM) is a form of multicast that accepts packets only from specific senders. Other protocols that exist are [[anycast]], [[broadcast]], [[geocast]] and [[unicast]]. |
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| − | Multicast is not always supported. Your OS needs to know how to handle it (Windows, MacOSX, and the Linux kernel do). And you need suitable network equipment (routers, switches etc.). Also you can only do multicast on internet if your ISP is connected to the [[MBONE]]. Only a limited amount of end users can receive multicast from the internet most of them would be universities and research centers.
| + | [[Category:Routing schemes]] |
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| − | However most LAN's can easily support Multicast. Beware that if your switch or routers don't support it, some types of network equipment actually broadcast the traffic. This might be a very undesirable behaviour.
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| − | See Also:
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| − | [http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/ito_doc/ipmulti.htm Cisco detailed Multicast explanation]
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Latest revision as of 04:09, 24 February 2019
Multicast, in contrast to unicast, sends a message to multiple clients. Source-specific multicast (SSM) is a form of multicast that accepts packets only from specific senders. Other protocols that exist are anycast, broadcast, geocast and unicast.
