Configuring the Switch

Configuring the Switch

IP Multicast (IGMP) Service Features—Multimedia Traffic Control

IP Multicast (IGMP) Service Features—Multimedia Traffic Control

In a network where IP multicast traffic is transmitted for various multimedia applications, you can use the switch to reduce unnecessary bandwidth usage on a per-port basis by configuring IGMP (Internet Group Management Proto- col). In the factory default state IGMP is disabled—the switch forwards all IGMP traffic to all ports, which can cause unnecessary bandwidth usage on ports not belonging to multicast groups. Enabling IGMP allows the ports to detect IGMP queries and report packets and manage IP multicast traffic through the switch.

IGMP is useful in multimedia applications such as LAN TV, desktop confer- encing, and collaborative computing, where there is multipoint communica- tion; that is, communication from one to many hosts, or communication originating from many hosts and destined for many other hosts. In such multipoint applications, IGMP will be configured on the hosts, and multicast traffic will be generated by one or more servers, inside or outside of the local network. Switches in the network that support IGMP can then be configured to direct the multicast traffic to only the ports where needed. In addition to the Switch 212M and Switch 224M, other HP switches that support IGMP include:

 

•

HP Switch 1600M

•

HP Switch 4000M

• HP Switch 2000 (B-version)

 

•

HP Switch 2400M

•

HP Switch 8000M

• HP Switch 800T

 

Enabling IGMP allows the ports to detect IGMP queries and report packets

 

and manage IP multicast traffic through the switch. If no other querier is

 

detected, the switch will also function as the querier. (If you need to disable

 

the querier feature, you can do so through the IGMP configuration MIB. Refer

 

to “Changing the Querier Configuration Setting” on page page 6-42.)

 

 

N o t e

In order for IGMP service to take effect, an IP address must be configured on

 

the switch. Refer to “IP Configuration” on page page 6-5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information on IGMP operation, refer to “How IGMP Operates” on page 6-38.

6-34