H3C Technologies H3C S10500 Series Switches - Manual (Page 16)

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Multicast overview
NOTE:
•
The term router in this document refers to both routers and Layer 3 switches.
• Unless otherwise stated, the term multicast in this document refers to IP multicast.
Introduction to multicast
As a technique that coexists with unicast and broadcast, the multicast technique effectively addresses the
issue of point-to-multipoint data transmission. By enabling high-efficiency point-to-multipoint data
transmission over a network, multicast greatly saves network bandwidth and reduces network load.
By using multicast technology, a network operator can easily provide new value-added services, such as
live webcasting, web TV, distance learning, telemedicine, web radio, realtime video conferencing, and
other bandwidth-critical and time-critical information services.
Information transmission techniques
The information transmission techniques include unicast, broadcast, and multicast.
Unicast
In unicast transmission, the information source must send a separate copy of information to each host that
needs the information.
Figure 1 Unicast transmission