Operation Manual – Multicast Protocol
H3C S3610&S5510 Series Ethernet Switches
Chapter 4 Multicast VLAN Configuration
4-1
Chapter 4 Multicast VLAN Configuration
4.1 Introduction to Multicast VLAN
, in the traditional multicast programs-on-demand mode, when
hosts that belong to different VLANs, Host A, Host B and Host C require multicast
programs on demand service, Router A needs to forward a separate copy of the
multicast data in each VLAN. This results in not only waste of network bandwidth but
also extra burden on the Layer 3 device.
Figure 4-1
Before and after multicast VLAN is enabled on the Layer 2 device
To solve this problem, you can enable the multicast VLAN feature on Switch A, namely
configure the VLANs to which these hosts belong as sub-VLANs of a multicast VLAN
on the Layer 2 device and enable Layer 2 multicast in the multicast VLAN. After this
configuration, Router A replicates the multicast data only within the multicast VLAN
instead of forwarding a separate copy of the multicast data to each VLAN. This saves
the network bandwidth and lessens the burden of the Layer 3 device.