1. Introduction-16
The purpose of IP multicast filtering is to optimize a switched
network’s performance, so multicast packets will only be
forwarded to those ports containing multicast group hosts
members and routers instead of flooding to all ports in the
subnet (VLAN).
Routing switches with IP multicast filtering/switching capability
not only passively monitor IGMP Query and Report messages,
DVMRP Probe messages, PIM, and MOSPF Hello messages;
they also actively send IGMP Query messages to learn locations
of multicast routers and member hosts in multicast groups within
each VLAN.
Note, however, IGMP neither alters nor routes any IP multicast
packets. Since IGMP is not concerned with the delivery of IP
multicast packets across subnetworks, an external IP multicast
router is needed if IP multicast packets have to be routed across
different subnetworks.
1.2.10 Switch Management
ADMINISTRATION CONSOLE VIA RS-232 SERIAL PORT
The switch provides an onboard serial port, which allows the
switch to be configured via a directly connected terminal or a
Telnet session.
WEB-BASED BROWSER INTERFACE
The switch also boasts a point-and-click browser-based
interface that lets users access full switch configuration and
functionality from a Netscape or Internet Explorer browser.
