Multicast routing

[hayesd]

Using Altiris servers to upgraed workstations images using multicast 225.1.2.3 port 402,The workstations are PXE clients and use udp ports 67,68 and 69(tftp).Tghe network consist of 4006 access layer, 4908 distribution layer and 6500 at the core utilizing ip/eigrp prortocol.Is routing multicast across subnets a good and reliable solution ?

[Prashanth Krishnappa]

Yes..Lot of customers use multicast. If you are routing between VLANs on your core 6500, configure multicast routing on it, enable PIM under the interfaces(CGMP as well if you have Sup2 in your 4006.)

[hayesd]

Are they using PIM sparse-dense mode with Auto-RP ?

We will have mutiple source machines on the same subnet with host on many different subnets.

[Prashanth Krishnappa]

You can use sparse-dense mode. If you have only one multicast router, you can specify the RP rather than using auto-rp

[geoff.belknap]

If you have the bandwidth to support the data you want to push out to the clients, multicast routing is a great way to go.

[hayesd]

Yes the bandwidth is available. We have gig-uplink connections from the Cat.4006 to Cat.4908 to Cat.6500.