Understanding Multicast Protocols and Their Functionality
Multicast operates using specific network protocols, primarily the Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) for IPv4 and Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD) for IPv6. These protocols manage the membership of hosts within multicast groups. When a device wants to receive multicast data, it joins a multicast group, and the network ensures that data intended for that group is routed to it. This differs from unicast communication, where data is sent from a single sender to a single receiver, and broadcast, where data is sent to all devices on a network. Multicast efficiency comes from its ability to reduce unnecessary bandwidth consumption by delivering data only to group members, making it ideal for scenarios like live video streaming or real-time data distribution.