Multicast groups scale to a larger set of destinations by not requiring prior knowledge of who or how many destinations there are. Multicast devices use their infrastructure efficiently by requiring the source to send a packet only once, even if delivered to a large number of devices. Devices replicate a packet to reach multiple receivers only when necessary.
Controllers and service platforms are free to join or leave a multicast group at any time. There are no restrictions on the location or members in a multicast group. A host may be a member of more than one multicast group at any given time and does not have to belong to a group to send messages to members of a group.
To review Multicast Groups that the selected controller or service platform has joined:
The Statistics > Controller > Interfaces > Multicast Groups Joined displays in the right-hand pane.
Group | Lists the name of existing multicast groups whose current members share multicast packets with one another on this selected interface as a means of collective interoperation. |
Users | Lists the number of devices currently interoperating on this interface in each listed multicast group. Any single device can be a member of more then one group at a time. |