Protocol-Independent Multicast

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1. Protocol-Independent Multicast (PIM) [4]:
Protocol Independent multicast [4] is defined as the collection of multicast routing protocols that are used to route multicast IP traffic to different distribution points over LAN, WAN and the Internet. PIM is classified into two different versions and operates in two different modes PIM-SP (sparse mode) and PIM-DM (dense mode) [7] that are used to perform routing operations similar to that of other routing protocols like OSPF, BGP and so on. The properties of PIM are as follows [7]
• It provides a loop-free tree communication between two routers.
• It is termed as protocol independent as it does not advertise the topology information to build the loop free tree in networks.
PIM-Dense Mode [8]:
The dense mode uses a flood and prune method [4] in which the network is flooded with multicast traffic and the unwanted traffic, the routers with no hosts and the unused links are pruned. This mode is suitable only for small-scale networks due to traffic flooding. PIM uses source distribution tree for building the network. The process occurs as follows in dense mode [7].
• The PIM neighbors are discovered in the network by using 224.0.0.13 (PIM) on the attached links.
• The multicast traffic is flooded in the network and the unwanted traffic is pruned in the network.
• The multicast table is maintained by updating the network using graft, assert and state refresh.
PIM-Sparse Mode [8]:
The sparse mode uses a pull and explicit join method [8]. There is no traffic flooding unless it has been requested in the network. This method is scalable on large networks and is considered to be a better and efficient method than the dense mode. Sparse mode uses source-based tree or a shared tree based on th...

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...co, IP Multicast Technology Overview: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios/solutions_docs/ip_multicast/White_papers/mcst_ovr.html#wp1008981 [3] Hedlund, Brad, Identifying Ethernet Multicast: http://bradhedlund.com/2007/11/21/identifying-ethernet-multicast/ [4] Network technologies, PIM Overview: http://network-technologies.metaswitch.com/multicast/what-is-pim.aspx [5] Official Cisco Press Reviewer, Multicast – Understand How IP Multicast Works: http://www.firewall.cx/networking-topics/general-networking/107-network-multicast.html [6] Solie, Karl CCIE Practical Studies, Volume II: http://www.informit.com/library/content.aspx?b=CCIE_Practical_Studies_II&seqNum=28 [7] Virigina Cs Itlab, Chapter 10: IP Multicast: http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~itlab/book/pdf/Ch10_v1.pdf [8] Wikipedia: Protocol Independent Multicast:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protocol_Independent_Multicast

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