Multicast Deployment Guidelines

TIBCO multicast applications depend on the network layer to provide multicast connectivity between them. To assist you in the successful deployment of our applications, it is beneficial to be aware of any issues that might adversely affect your implementation of SmartSockets Multicast.

To begin with, it is important to highlight the context into which multicast connectivity finds itself in, in contrast to unicast connectivity. The nearly seamless flow of unicast packets within our local area networks and across the Internet backbone is often taken for granted. Unicast connectivity through the Internet is now nearly ubiquitous. Unfortunately, multicast connectivity through the Internet and through most corporate intranets is typically far more constrained at this point.

Four of the seven layers in the ISO model of networking are referenced here, for the purpose of discussing multicast deployment guidelines. For each layer, the functions performed by the layer and the equipment or software that can perform them are discussed. The following table summarizes this information by layer.

It is important to note that each layer relies on the layers below it to provide a foundation upon which it can build new functions.