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Carriers who required the ability to deliver high-bandwidth-dependent services, such as Voice, Video, and Data (VVD) are deploying Next Generation Networks (NGNs) that depend not only upon the correct choice of service and content partners, but, also on the right network infrastructure to manage all of these elements. Network infrastructure must also be able to evolve incrementally, without degradation of performance, as the business and consumer’s needs change.
IP Infusion is the leading provider of integrated IPv4 and IPv6 multicast routing protocols in the market. The ZebOS Network Platform encompasses a common Multicast Routing Information Base (MRIB) that allows multiple multicast protocols to operate at the same time.
In a multicasting environment, a single stream of data is sent to the routers and Ethernet switches by the multicast source, and only those recipients who have advertised an interest in receiving the information in the stream will receive it. The routers in the path between the source and the receivers replicate the multicast data and send it on.
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IPv4 and IPv6 Multicast Routing Model
In this example, the Server sends the multicast stream through Routers 1 and 2, which forward it on to Routers 3, 4, and 5. Router 4 is not interested in receiving the stream, so the stream is stopped there, but other traffic to receiver 5 continues. Routers 3 and 5 have interested clients in Receivers 1 through 4, therefore, they receive the multicast data.
Multicast Routing Protocols
IP Infusion offers a complete suite of multicast routing modules, three of which are offered with Virtual Routing as an option.
DVMRP – The Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol is used to share information between routers to transport IP Multicast packets among networks. It provides an efficient mechanism for connectionless datagram delivery to a group of hosts across an internetwork. It is a distributed protocol that dynamically generates IP multicast delivery trees using a technique called Reverse Path Multicasting.
IGMP – The Internet Group Management Protocol is a communications protocol used to manage the membership of Internet Protocol multicast groups. IGMP is used by IP hosts and adjacent multicast routers to establish multicast group memberships. IGMP can be used for online video and gaming, and allows more efficient use of resources when supporting these uses.
MLD – The Multicast Listener Discovery is the protocol used in the IPv6 protocol suite by a router to discover listeners for a specific multicast group, in the same manner as IGMP is used in IPv4.
PIM-DM – The Protocol Independent Multicast – Dense Mode protocol effectively distributes data to target recipients in a concentrated area. Greatly optimizes the delivery of video conferencing, streaming music and movies, Voice over IP (VoIP), distributed downloads, internet TV, and more, into Local Area Networks. Also available with Virtual Routing. PIM-DM is a data-driven multicast routing protocol that builds source-based multicast distribution trees that operate on the flood-and-prune principle. It requires unicast routing information, but does not depend upon a specific unicast routing protocol. Ideally suited for switches and routers, PIM-DM functionality greatly optimizes the delivery of video conferencing, streaming music and movies, Voice over IP (VoIP), distributed downloads, Internet TV and more into Local Area Networks (LANs). The ZebOS PIM-DM module is optionally available with Virtual Routing.
PIM-SM – The Protocol Independent Multicast – Sparse Mode protocol efficiently establishes distribution trees across wide area networks (WANs) by routing multicast packets to multicast groups. PIM-SM constructs a tree from each sender to the receivers in a multicast group and packets from the sender follow the tree to interested recipients, also available with Virtual Routing. The ZebOS PIM-SM module routes multicast packets to multicast groups, and is designed to efficiently establish distribution trees across wide area networks (WANs). PIM-SM is termed “protocol independent” because it can use the unicast route information that any unicast routing protocol enters into the multicast RIB. The PIM Sparse Mode protocol is designed for situations where multicast groups are thinly populated across a large region. Although it can operate in LAN environments, it is most efficient in WAN environments. The ZebOS PIM-SM module is optionally available with Virtual Routing.
PIM-SSM – The Protocol Independent Multicast – Source-Specific Mode is a subset of PIM-SM that allows deployment of SSM in a network with hosts that do not support IGMP Version 3. The ZebOS PIM-SSM module is optionally available with Virtual Routing.
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