Multicasting without a router CBS350 10 port POE switch

[Shydevicetesting]

Hi,

[Example scaled down for demo and log gathering]

There is a setup of 6 computers all connected to the CBS350 Switch directly.

Each physical Port on the switch has a Vlan Assigned to it with respective static Ip addresses.

Computers 1to 4 have applications running and the 5th computer with a software interface to collect info and collate / send back commands for its computational purposes etc from the specific programs running  on Computer 1 to 4.

On computer5 there is a GUI that shows the online status [Multicast communication - heartbeat messages ] of systems 1 to 4.

This setup uses Unicast and Muticast respectively.

Unicast works fine, However I have been told the Multicast traffic reaching computer 5 toggles on and off every 5-10 seconds.

Where computer 5 keeps reporting online and offline messages of 1 to 4 , no constant connection is established.

[IP assigned static on all computers and all 5 computers ping each other ip's and their respective .....20.1 / ....30.1 gateways]

Vlan's Setup

Computer 1 = Valn 20 = 192.168.20.1  - PC Ip address = 192.168.20.100  - Application Ip = 192.168.20.200

Computer 2 = Valn 30 = 192.168.30.1  - PC Ip address = 192.168.30.100  - Application Ip = 192.168.30.200

Computer 3 = Valn 40 = 192.168.40.1  - PC Ip address = 192.168.40.100  - Application Ip = 192.168.40.200

Computer 4 = Valn 50 = 192.168.50.1 - PC Ip address = 192.168.50.100  - Application Ip = 192.168.50.200

Computer 5 = Valn 60 = 192.168.60.1 - PC Ip address = 192.168.60.100  - Application Ip = 192.168.60.200

I was informed that...

Each Application is hosted using Virtual box and Virtual box is mapped to the Physical network adapter of each system.

Virtual box application take up the Host PC network reference and the ip's 20.200  /  30.200 are configured internally on the VM applications to open up a Browser GUI, which needs to be picked up on the 5the computer on Vlan 50.

Ports on the Switch

gi2 = Vlan 20  = access

gi3 = Vlan 30  = access

gi4 = Vlan 40  = access

gi5 = Vlan 50 = Trunk  [This computer needs to hear and talk to the rest 4 computers through multicast ]

gi6= Vlan 60  = access

Ip routing is enabled

IGMP snooping enabled and disabled tested both same results no constant connection.

tried to setup Routing tables = no go ! no results.

tried to setup Multicast groups = no go ! or no knowledge.

tried to add ip and Mac based groups = no go ! little or no knowledge.

, I have put the best possible info into the question , any suggestions on what can be tried to achieve desired results?

Thanks in advance.

[paul driver]

Hello
The siwtch is the L3 router it seems, if you need the pc located on vlan 50 to receive MC from the other vlans then you need PIM enabled on those L3 interfaces of the vlans, even such a small MC network would suggest to apply pim sparse-mode

Also by default igmp snooping should be on for all vlans so if this is disabled then suggest to enable it

On the switch
conf t
ip mutlicast-routing

access-list 10 permit <mc group>

int lo0
ip address x.x.x.x 255.255.255.255
ip pim sparse-mode
exit


ip pim rp-address x.x.x.x (loopback) 10

int vlan x
ip pim sparse-mode

[Shydevicetesting]

Hi Paul,

Thank you for looking into the question and providing the config settings. I am not sure if the PIM settings are available on the switch at hand , and when changing the Interface of any of the gi2 / gi3 or gi5 on the switch [ports mapped to vlan 20 /30 50]

to L3 ports communication like ping stops between the v lans, hence were all set to access ports.

However Since you are the expert on this I will follow your instructions and I will have this implemented and provide the output.

just to clarify....

On the switch
conf t
ip mutlicast-routing

access-list 10 permit <mc group>          ............ No MC group is created  for now. ?

int lo0                                                        
ip address x.x.x.x 255.255.255.255       ............. in loopback which IP address must be entered ? Multicast ? judging by GW
ip pim sparse-mode
exit


ip pim rp-address x.x.x.x (loopback) 10        ..........  here Ip for the Multicast address defined on the 50 vlan PC software ?

int vlan x                                                 ............... Vlan 50 
ip pim sparse-mode

Thank you.

[paul driver]

Hello
Before you make any changes - just like to clarify with you.

Does this switch actually have any L3 interfaces or is this just a Layer 2 switch with all ports running asaccess ports assigned to specific vlans for their attached hosts ?

Also you say you don’t have a MC group so MC is working just within each vlan correct if so do you have any device performing any routing?

[Shydevicetesting]

Hi Paul,

I gathered Some Screen Shots of the Switch Interface to confirm that it has L3 Capabilities, and other questions you had asked.

" Also you say you don’t have a MC group so MC is working just within each vlan correct if so do you have any device performing any routing? "

Yes MC is working within each Vlan if somehow its intermittent as mentioned - No device other is working / performing any  routing.

I guess that CBS350 Switch it self is doing the internal routing.

Multicast Screen

All of the above was taken from the Switch for your reference, Some config was backed up and reset to provide screenshots to understand the Switch GUI better and its functions, However the Multicast screen shots are exactly the same as it was never setup with with the Vlans and configured due to lack of information / steps and loosing ping communication between Vlans if setup incorrectly.

Thanks

[paul driver · Accepted solution]

Hello
So if this switch is not performing any routing at present and you have multiple vlans with hosts in each of those vlans with separate ip addressing then those hosts will not be able to communicate outside their own vlan/ip range, irrespective of any multicast.
I have neve had the privilege in configuring one of these switch's up but If you wish to allow intervlan communication and also multicast routing to traverse these vlans then you need to create:

Additional ipv4 interfaces that relate to the vlans 20-60,
Enable ipv4 multicast/ igmp snooping for those vlans
Create a multicast group

[Shydevicetesting]

Hi Paul,

Thank you for all the info, will proceed accordingly and keep you updated
if the setup works, as expected.

Help was much appreciated.