3com S7906E Installation Instruction

 

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Generally, we refer to IP multicast working at the network layer as Layer 3 multicast and the 

corresponding multicast protocols as Layer 3 multicast protocols, which include IGMP/MLD, 

PIM/IPv6 PIM, MSDP, and MBGP/IPv6 MBGP; we refer to IP multicast working at the data link 

layer as Layer 2 multicast and the corresponding multicast protocols as Layer 2 multicast protocols, 

which include IGMP Snooping/MLD Snooping, and multicast VLAN/IPv6 multicast VLAN.  

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IGMP Snooping, IGMP, multicast VLAN, PIM, MSDP, and MBGP are for IPv4, MLD Snooping, 

MLD, IPv6 multicast VLAN, IPv6 PIM, and IPv6 MBGP are for IPv6.  

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This section provides only general descriptions about applications and functions of the Layer 2 and 

Layer 3 multicast protocols in a network. For details of these protocols, refer to the related 

configuration manuals in the IP Multicast Volume.  

 

Layer 3 multicast protocols include multicast group management protocols and multicast routing 

protocols. 

 describes where these multicast protocols are in a network. 

Figure 1-8 Positions of Layer 3 multicast protocols  

 

 

1)  Multicast management protocols  

Typically, the internet group management protocol (IGMP) or multicast listener discovery protocol (MLD) 

is used between hosts and Layer 3 multicast devices directly connected with the hosts. These protocols 

define the mechanism of establishing and maintaining group memberships between hosts and Layer 3 

multicast devices.  

2)  Multicast routing protocols