Cisco APIC Layer 3 Networking Configuration Guide, Release 6.2(x)

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Cisco APIC Layer 3 Networking Configuration Guide, Release 6.2(x)

Configure layer 3 multicast using the GUI

Updated: April 17, 2026

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Configure layer 3 multicast using the Cisco APIC GUI to ENABLE PIM and IGMP functionality for bridge domains and Layer 3 Out interfaces.

This task enables layer 3 multicast functionality on a VRF to support PIM and IGMP protocols for multicast traffic distribution across the network.

This section explains how to configure layer 3 multicast using the Cisco APIC GUI.

Note

Click the help icon (?) located in the top-right corner of the Work pane and of each dialog box for information about a visible tab or a field.

Before you begin

  • The desired VRF, bridge domains, layer 3 Out interfaces with IP addresses must be configured to ENABLE PIM and IGMP.

  • Basic unicast network must be configured.

Follow these steps to configure layer 3 multicast using the GUI:

Procedure

  1. Navigate to Tenants > Tenant_name > Networking > VRFs > VRF_name > MULTICAST.

    In the Work pane, a message is displayed as follows: PIM is not enabled on this VRF. Would you like to ENABLE PIM?.

  2. Click YES, ENABLE MULTICAST.

  3. Configure interfaces:

    1. From the Work pane, click the Interfaces tab.
    2. Expand the Bridge Domains table to display the Create Bridge Domain dialog and enter the appropriate value in each field.
    3. Click Select.
    4. Expand the Interfaces table to display the Select an L3 Out dialog.
    5. Click the L3 Out drop-down arrow to choose an L3 Out.
    6. Click Select.

  4. Configure a rendezvous point (RP):

    1. In the Work pane, click the Rendezvous Points tab and choose from the following rendezvous point (RP) options:

    • Static RP

      1. Expand the Static RP table.

      2. Enter the appropriate value in each field.

      3. Click Update.

    • Fabric RP

      1. Expand the Fabric RP table.

      2. Enter the appropriate value in each field.

      3. Click Update.

    • Auto-RP

      1. Enter the appropriate value in each field.

    • Bootstrap Router (BSR)

      1. Enter the appropriate value in each field.

  5. Configure the pattern policy:

    1. From the Work pane, click the Pattern Policy tab and choose the Any Source MULTICAST (ASM) or Source Specific MULTICAST (SSM) option.
    2. Enter the appropriate value in each field.

  6. Configure the PIM settings:

    1. Click the PIM Setting tab.
    2. Enter the appropriate value in each field.

  7. Configure the IGMP settings:

    1. Click the IGMP Setting tab.
    2. Expand the IGMP Context SSM Translate Policy table.
    3. Enter appropriate value in each field.
    4. Click Update.

  8. Configure inter-VRF multicast:

    1. In the Work pane, click the Inter-VRF MULTICAST tab.
    2. Expand the Inter-VRF MULTICAST table.
    3. Enter appropriate value in each field.
    4. Click Update.

  9. Configure the Config Stripe Winner Policy:

    1. In the Work pane, click the Config Stripe Winner tab.
    2. Specify a source address/address range.
    3. Specify MULTICAST group range prefix. Prefix length can be /32 to /4. Enter 224.0.0.0/4 for all MULTICAST groups.
    4. Select the POD ID of the POD from which the Stripe winner needs to be elected.
    5. Select the Exclude Remote Leaf option to exclude remote leaf switches.

  10. When finished, click Submit.

  11. On the menu bar, navigate to Tenants > Tenant_name > Networking > VRFs > VRF_name > MULTICAST, and perform the following actions:

    1. In the Work pane, Interfaces tab, choose the appropriate L3 Out, and from the PIM Policy drop-down list, choose the appropriate PIM policy to attach.
    2. Click Submit.

  12. To verify the configuration perform the following actions:

    1. In the Work pane, click Interfaces to display the associated Bridge Domains.
    2. Click Interfaces to display the associated L3 Out interfaces.
    3. In the Navigation pane, navigate to the BD.
    4. In the Work pane, the configured IGMP policy and PIM functionality are displayed as configured earlier.
    5. In the Navigation pane, the L3 Out interface is displayed.
    6. In the Work pane, the PIM functionality is displayed as configured earlier.
    7. In the Work pane, navigate to Fabric > Inventory > Protocols > IGMP to view the operational status of the configured IGMP interfaces.
    8. In the Work pane, navigate to Fabric > Inventory > POD name > Leaf_Node > Protocols > IGMP > IGMP Domains to view the domain information for MULTICAST enabled/disabled nodes.

Layer 3 MULTICAST is successfully configured on the VRF with PIM and IGMP functionality enabled. The MULTICAST interfaces are operational and the configuration can be verified through the GUI interface tables.