SMC Networks 6128PL2, Management Manual

Page: 286 / 664

Configuring the Switch
3-234
3
Multicast VLAN Registration
Multicast VLAN Registration (MVR) is a protocol that controls access to a single
network-wide VLAN most commonly used for transmitting multicast traffic (such as
television channels or video-on-demand) across a service provider’s network. Any
multicast traffic entering an MVR VLAN is sent to all attached subscribers. This
protocol can significantly reduce the processing overhead required to dynamically
monitor and establish the distribution tree for a normal multicast VLAN. This makes
it possible to support common multicast services over a wide part of the network
without having to use any multicast routing protocol.
MVR maintains the user isolation and data security provided by VLAN segregation
by passing only multicast traffic into other VLANs to which the subscribers belong.
Even though common multicast streams are passed onto different VLAN groups
from the MVR VLAN, users in different IEEE 802.1Q or private VLANs cannot
exchange any information (except through upper-level routing services).
General Configuration Guidelines for MVR
1. Enable MVR globally on the switch, select the MVR VLAN, and add the
multicast groups that will stream traffic to attached hosts (see “Configuring
Global MVR Settings” on page 3-235).
2. Set the interfaces that will join the MVR as source ports or receiver ports (see
“Configuring MVR Interface Status” on page 3-238).
3. Enable IGMP Snooping to a allow a subscriber to dynamically join or leave an
MVR group (see “Configuring IGMP Snooping and Query Parameters” on
page 3-221). Note that only IGMP version 2 or 3 hosts can issue multicast join
or leave messages.
Multicast Router
Layer 2 Switch
Multicast Server
PC
TV
Set-top Box
TV
Set-top Box
Satellite Services
Service
Network
Source
Port
Receiver
Ports