Describes a communication method where data is sent from one source to multiple destinations simultaneously.
Multicast is a method of communication that
-
sends data from one source to multiple destinations simultaneously
-
supports Layer 2 and Layer 3 networks on AP
-
enables point-to-multipoint or multipoint-to-multipoint transmissions.
Reserved IP address ranges for multicast protocols
By default, multicast is enabled for these protocols within the specified IP address ranges:
By default, only the multicast IP addresses specified below are forwarded across the URWB network.
Multicast configuration is required only on mesh end devices.
The multicast reserved IP address range is 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255.
| Protocol |
Reserved multicast IP address range |
|---|---|
| Universal plug and play (UPnP) |
239.255.255.250 |
| Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) |
224.0.0.5 and 224.0.0.6 |
| Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) |
N/A |
Advantages of multicast configuration
Multicast configuration provides these advantages:
-
It reduces the amount of bandwidth used by sending a single stream of data from one source to multiple destinations.
-
It supports many devices without significantly increasing network load.
-
It optimizes network performance for applications that require real-time data distribution.
-
It maintains consistent quality by reducing the number of duplicate streams. This helps to maintain consistent Quality of Service (QoS) for all recipient APs.