Does Linux support multicast?

The Linux kernel is Level-2 Multicast-Compliant and meets all the requirements to send, receive, or act as a router for multicast packets or datagrams.

What is IGMP in multicast?

The Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) manages the membership of hosts and routing devices in multicast groups. IP hosts use IGMP to report their multicast group memberships to any immediately neighboring multicast routing devices.

What is multicasting in Linux?

A multicast packet is a network packet meant to be received by more than one host, but not by all hosts. This functionality is obtained by assigning special hardware addresses to groups of hosts. Packets directed to one of the special addresses should be received by all the hosts in that group.

Is IGMP a routing protocol?

IGMP is a network layer protocol used to set up multicasting on networks that use the Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4). Specifically, IGMP allows devices to join a multicast group. IGMP is not a multicasting routing protocol; it is a protocol that manages group membership.

What is multicast routing in Linux?

Linux: Multicast Routing and IGMP settings. Multicasting is widely used in IPTV stream because it allows to stream only the video packets that are being requested by clients. The IGMP communication protocol is used to control multicast group memberships. Multicast IP addresses span from IP addresses 224.0.0.0 through 239.255.255.255.

How to control multicast group memberships using IGMP?

The IGMP communication protocol is used to control multicast group memberships. Multicast IP addresses span from IP addresses 224.0.0.0 through 239.255.255.255. To route multicast packets from any interface to eth1 use the route command as following :

What is IGMP (Internet Group management protocol)?

The Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) is for exchanging messages to manage multicast routing and message transmission. Essentially, the purpose of IGMP is to associate a group of unicast addresses to a specific class D multicast address. The protocol exchanges information about these groups between hosts and routers.

What is IGMP in Linux kernel?

Once you have all that sorted out, and your new Linux kernel compiled, you will see that the IP protocols listed, at boot time, now include IGMP. This is a protocol for managing multicast groups.