4.7.3.8.1
IP BROADCAST/MULTICAST OVERVIEW
When an IP packet needs to reach more than one unit, the destination address can be set to either a broad-
cast address or a multicast address.
Figure 32 - Broadcast Window Detail
4.7.3.8.2
BROADCASTS
There are two types of IP broadcast addresses:
•
Directed broadcast
A directed broadcast address is an IP address where the host portion is all ones (for instance
172.30.1.255 is the directed broadcast address for the network 172.30.1.0/24, 172.30.1.207 is the di-
rected broadcast address for the network 172.30.1.192/28).
•
Limited broadcast
The limited broadcast address is 255.255.255.255.
Note:
Routing equipment (to prevent broadcast storms) do not by default forward limited broad-
cast packets (255.255.255.255). On the other hand, directed broadcast packets are by default
forwarded because these packets are routable like any other unicast packets.
4.7.3.8.2.1
DIRECTED BROADCAST
Each interface of a unit has its own IP address and netmask. From the IP address and netmask, it is easy to cal-
culate the broadcast address associated to the interface. For instance, if the Ethernet interface address of a
GeminiG3 radiomodem is 172.30.1.1/24 and the RF interface address is 10.0.1.2/24, then the broadcast ad-
dress of the Ethernet interface is 172.30.1.255 and the broadcast address of the RF interface is 10.0.1.255.
The “
Directed Broadcast
” option buttons let the user select whether the unit must forward
(or not)
directed
broadcast
packets. Upon reception of a
directed broadcast
packet, the unit takes the following actions:
If the directed broadcast address matches with one of the unit’s interface broadcast addresses:
•
Keep a copy for itself (pass to internal applications, if any).
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