Apple’s Bonjour and Google’s Chromecast
Overview of Apple's Bonjour and Google's Chromecast
The Aruba mDNS Gateway and Google Chromecast solution adds support for Apple’s Bonjour and Google’s
Chromecast discovery from a switch. The solution uses mDNS protocol for discovery and is responsible for
handling mDNS packets.
Bonjour
Aruba’s mDNS Gateway solution supports Apple’s Bonjour protocol to the switch.
Bonjour is Apple’s implementation of a suite of zero-configuration networking protocols and is supported by both
Mac OS X devices (such as laptops and desktops), and Apple iOS devices (such as iPhones and iPads).
Bonjour’s zero-configuration networking services benefits include:
• No longer having to assign IP addresses or host names to access network services on Mac OS X and Apple
iOS devices
• Applications can leverage Bonjour to automatically detect required services.
• Interacts with other applications to allow for automatic connection of devices.
• Communication and data exchange is possible without user configuration.
Google’s Chromecast
Chromecast is a digital media player developed by Google. The device is a HDMI dongle that plays audio and
video content on a high-definition screen by directly streaming it via Wi-Fi from the Internet or a local network. The
media is selected, by users, to play on devices by enabling Chromecast mobile and web applications. Casting a
tab for sites that are not Google Cast-enabled. mirrors most Google Chrome browser content running on the
device (MAC OSX and Windows).
Chromecast uses a simple multicast protocol for discovery and launch. This protocol enables users to mirror their
devices on a second screen.
Aruba mDNS protocol
Aruba supports mDNS protocol implemented as a server. mDNS is the primary method of discovering a
Chromecast that supports the v2 API. While SSDP/DIAL support is still present and used by some applications
(such as “You Tube”), existing applications have to migrate to the new SDK using the new protocol.
mDNS Gateway
The mDNS gateway, running on a switch, will listen for Bonjour responses and Bonjour queries and forward them
to different subnets. Its main function is to forward Bonjour traffic by re-transmitting the traffic between reflection
enabled VLANs. The switches are configured interfaces in the VLANs for which they are performing packet
reflection.
NOTE:
The mDNS gateway in a switch acts as an application layer gateway between subnets. An IP
interface is required on each of the network that it is reflecting between.
Appendix A
Apple’s Bonjour and Google’s Chromecast
Appendix A Apple’s Bonjour and Google’s Chromecast
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