Multimedia Traffic Control with IP Multicast (IGMP)

IGMP Operating Features

groups, and triggers updates of this information. With IGMP enabled, the Series 5300XL switches use data from the Querier to determine whether to forward or block multicast traffic on specific ports. When the switch has an IP address on a given VLAN, it automatically operates as a Querier for that VLAN if it does not detect a multicast router or another switch functioning as a Querier. For more informa­ tion, refer to “Querier Operation” on page 12-20.

IGMP Operating Features

In the factory default configuration, IGMP is disabled. If multiple VLANs are not configured, you must configure IGMP on the default VLAN (DEFAULT_VLAN; VID = 1). If multiple VLANs are configured, you must configure IGMP on a per-VLAN basis for each VLAN in which you want IGMP to operate’. When you use either the CLI or the web browser interface to enable IGMP on the switch or a VLAN, the switch forwards IGMP traffic only to ports belonging to multicast groups. Using the console enables these additional options:

Forward with High Priority. Disabling this parameter (the default) causes the switch or VLAN to process IP multicast traffic, along with other traffic, in the order received (normal priority). Enabling this parameter causes the switch or VLAN to give a higher priority to IP multicast traffic than to other traffic.

Auto/Blocked/Forward: You can use the console to configure individual ports to any of the following states:

Auto (the default): Causes the switch to interpret IGMP packets and to filter IP multicast traffic based on the IGMP packet information for ports belonging to a multicast group. This means that IGMP traffic will be forwarded on a specific port only if an IGMP host or multicast router is connected to the port.

Forward: Causes the switch to forward all IGMP and IP multicast transmissions through the port.

Blocked: Causes the switch to drop all IGMP transmissions received from a specific port and to block all outgoing IP Multicast packets for that port. This has the effect of preventing IGMP traffic from moving through specific ports.

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