Linux® Routing

Summary

The multicast routing protocols you’re most likely to use in Linux are MOSPF, DVMRP, and either PIM-SM or PIM-DM. MOSPF is most useful in smaller multicast setups where you need a single protocol to handle both unicast and multicast, and RIP-2 doesn’t really handle multicast data as much as it does multicast updates. DVMRP, PIM-SM, and PIM-DM all require an additional unicast protocol to work with.You would use PIM-SM if your multicast group members tend to be very spread out, and you’d use PIM-DM or DVMRP if they are more densely packed.

Table 2.1 outlines the multicast protocols available to you and the data you’ll need to get started.

Table 2.1. The Programs Used to Implement Multicast Routing Protocols in Linux, and the RFC Documents ...