Multicas aggregation

[divadko]

Hi all,

i want to ask that what is the best way to aggregate multicast sources for tv headend.

As multicast aggregation switch we are using cat 4503e.

We have 3 types of sources. Each in different vlan...

1 - IRDs - satelit receives

2 - TV studios

3 - regional tvs using cheap encoders

At the moment we are using only 2 vlan for all IRDs with igms snooping. To the same vlan we have vonnected uplink ports of cisco DCM muxers.

TV studios and regional tvs are connected as different vlans with enabled multicast routing and PIM SM.

Question is it cisco dcm uplink shouldnt be also on separate vlan with enabled PIM sm or as i have it now is the best solution?

But you must know that uplink interface of cisco dcm can act as multicast source too! If i demux some content from IRD or thanscode it o need to put this content into same vlan as IRDs.

thanx

[M02@rt37]

Hello @divadko,

When it comes to aggregating multicast sources for TV headend, there are three approaches you can consider:

--VLAN-based Multicast: It appears that you are currently using VLANs to segregate your multicast sources. This is a common practice and can work well for managing different types of sources. Having separate VLANs for IRDs, TV studios, and regional TVs allows you to isolate the sources and apply specific configurations for each VLAN. This approach can simplify management and troubleshooting.

--Multicast Routing: Since you have multiple VLANs with different multicast sources, enabling multicast routing with a protocol such as PIM SM is a good idea. This allows multicast traffic to be routed between different VLANs, enabling communication between sources and receivers in separate VLANs.

--Cisco DCM Uplink VLAN: Regarding the uplink ports of the Cisco DCM muxers, there are a few considerations. If these ports are used solely for receiving multicast traffic from the IRDs and sending it to the TV headend, then having them in the same VLAN as the IRDs can simplify configuration and avoid potential issues with inter-VLAN routing.

However, if the uplink interface of the Cisco DCM can also act as a multicast source, and you need to distribute that multicast traffic to other VLANs or multicast groups, then placing the uplink ports in a separate VLAN with enabled PIM SM might be beneficial. This would allow you to route the multicast traffic from the Cisco DCM to the desired destinations.

Considerations:

->Evaluate the requirements and traffic patterns of your multicast sources. If you anticipate a large amount of multicast traffic between the sources and receivers in different VLANs, enabling multicast routing can be beneficial.

->Ensure that the network infrastructure, including the Cisco 4503E switch, is properly configured to support multicast routing and handle the expected traffic load.

->Consider any security or access control requirements for the different multicast groups and VLANs. Implement appropriate security measures, such as IGMP snooping, to control the distribution of multicast traffic.

[MHM Cisco World]

I dont get your Q, it multicast IGMP issue or PIM L3 issue ?