MLD Snooping

Similar to IGMP snooping, MLD snooping is a Layer 2 function of the switch; it does not require multicast routing to be enabled. In MLD snooping, the Layer 2 switch keeps track of MLD reports and only forwards multicast traffic to the part of the local network that requires it. MLD snooping optimizes the use of network bandwidth and prevents multicast traffic from being flooded to parts of the local network that do not need it.

MLD snooping is disabled by default on all VLANs in the switch.

When MLD snooping is disabled on a VLAN, all MLD and IPv6 multicast traffic floods within the VLAN.

MLD snooping expects at least one device on every VLAN to periodically generate MLD query messages.