3com 4210 PWR 9-Port 3CR17341-91-ME 用户手册

产品代码
3CR17341-91-ME
下载
页码 567
188
C
HAPTER
 15: M
ULTICAST
 O
VERVIEW
All receivers interested in the same information form a multicast group. 
Multicast groups are not subject to geographic restrictions.
A router that supports Layer 3 multicast is called multicast router or Layer 3 
multicast device. In addition to providing multicast routing, a multicast router 
can also manage multicast group members. 
For a better understanding of the multicast concept, you can assimilate multicast 
transmission to the transmission of TV programs, as shown in Table 141.
n
A multicast source does not necessarily belong to a multicast group. Namely, a 
multicast source is not necessarily a multicast data receiver.
A multicast source can send data to multiple multicast groups at the same time, 
and multiple multicast sources can send data to the same multicast group at the 
same time. 
Advantages and 
Applications of 
Multicast
Advantages of multicast
Advantages of multicast include: 
Enhanced efficiency: Multicast decreases network traffic and reduces server 
load and CPU load. 
Optimal performance: Multicast reduces redundant traffic. 
Distributive application: Multicast makes multiple-point application possible. 
Application of multicast
The multicast technology effectively addresses the issue of point-to-multipoint 
data transmission. By enabling high-efficiency point-to-multipoint data 
transmission, over an IP network, multicast greatly saves network bandwidth and 
reduces network load. 
Multicast provides the following applications: 
Applications of multimedia and flow media, such as Web TV, Web radio, and 
real-time video/audio conferencing. 
Communication for training and cooperative operations, such as remote 
education. 
Database and financial applications (stock), and so on. 
Any point-to-multiple-point data application. 
Table 141   An analogy between TV transmission and multicast transmission
Step
TV transmission 
Multicast transmission 
1
A TV station transmits a TV program 
through a television channel. 
A multicast source sends multicast data to a 
multicast group. 
2
A user tunes the TV set to the channel. A receiver joins the multicast group.
3
The user starts to watch the TV 
program transmitted by the TV station 
via the channel. 
The receiver starts to receive the multicast 
data that the source sends to the multicast 
group. 
4
The user turns off the TV set. 
The receiver leaves the multicast group.