Journal of Applied Science and Engineering Innovation, Vol.4 No.2, 2017, pp.

55-59
ISSN (Print): 2331-9062
ISSN (Online): 2331-9070

IP Multicasting Simulation Technology Based on eNSP

YANG Fan1, ZHAO Li-zhen 2,
1
School of Computer Science, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, Guangdong, China .
2
Educational Technology and Computer Center Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, Guangdong, China

Abstract: Due to lacking the practical network engineering cases in the teaching process of network engineering
major both in colleges and universities, therefore it selects IP multicasting technology as the researching object,
which is based on eNSP network simulator, so as to construct the topology of IP multicasting network, combined
with the application of IGMP, PIM-SM, OSPF protocol and VLC player, constructing a dynamic case of running
IP multicasting network that can simulate the real IP multicasting network. On this basis, the operation can
simulate the normal network behavior between the multicasting servers and the received sites, which can analyze
the basic characteristics of all kinds of multicasting packets on the network link. Moreover, the testing results can
verify the correctness of the practical feature of this method.

Keywords IP multicast, eNSP, IGMP, PIM-SM, Simulation

INTRODUCTION network, which can be widely used in the practical

teaching and occupation training for network
IP multicasting technology can solve the engineering major both in colleges and universities,
interconnection communication problem of one point with the advantages of being flexible and convenient,
to multipoint in network, compared with the practical and efficient with low cost.
traditional unicasting communication, adopting
multicasting technology can effectively reduce ANALYSIS OF IP MULTICASTING
network traffic and improve the efficiency of network TECHNOLOGY
communication, which can reduce the load of server
[Wu, et. al., 2006]. In the multicasting network, even Architecture of IP Multicasting Network
if the number of users is increased exponentially, the
amount of network backbone traffic will not be IP multicasting network is built on the basis of the
increased, therefore, the increase in network size will connectivity of unicasting network, which can be
not increase the burden of the network. So, the divided into three parts: multicasting source,
effective application of IP multicasting technology is multicasting routing network and group membership
very important to optimize the network service and network, which can be shown in Fig.1. From the
improve the network performance. However, due to perspective of unicasting network, multicasting
the limitation of the textbooks [Wu, 2013][Yi, 2012] source is a multicasting service network server,
and the limited contents of the curriculum, so far the which owns specific unicasting IP address; from the
teaching of network engineering in many universities perspective of multicasting network, multicasting
only paid attention to the general teaching and source can define a multicasting group, with a
experiment that is based on point-to-point unicasting specific multicasting IP address identification.
network technology, which is lack of a Members of the group are composed by the host
comprehensive introduction to the IP multicasting network and edge router (e.g. AR3 and AR6) or
technology, especially lacking the real running IP three-layer switch, running IGMP protocol, IGMP on
multicasting network teaching case, which can not be the host computer can be used to the propose the
connected with the related concept and technology operation application of joining the group or leaving
with comprehensive application and comprehensive the group to the edge router, IGMP on the edge router
understanding, therefore it can seriously affect the can respond to the application of each host
effect of professional teaching. In this paper, through computer's joining or leaving in this sub-network.
the analysis of IP multicasting technology and Thus it can maintain a list of members of the group,
protocol, based on in-depth study on eNSP network so as to realize the management on the members in
simulator[4], it proposed IP multicasting network this sub-network; multicasting routing network is
design and configuration method based on virtual compose by several interconnected routers (e.g. AR1,
network environment, constructing a IP multicasting AR2, AR3, AR4, AR5, AR6), running the
network case based on eNSP, simulating the real multicasting routing protocol. Since the edge routers
network engineering in the design of IP multicasting can connect the connection member in the sub-

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network with multicasting routing network, through exchanging information with other routers.
therefore, the edge routers must run IGMP protocol When the last member of the group leaves the
and multicasting routing protocol at the same time, multicasting group, the connected multicasting
when the first group member of the group takes part routers with the other multicasting routers can leave
in the group, the edge routers and the other the multicasting tree through exchanging
multicasting routers can form the multicasting tree information with other routers.

Fig. 1 Typical Topology of IP Multicasting Network

PIM Routing Protocol to the upstream positively, so as to change the
PIM (Protocol Independent Multicast) is a pruning state to the transferring state.
multicasting routing protocol that does not depend on
Group Membership Management Techniques for
the unicasting routing protocol. It can provide two
IP Multicasting Networks
kinds of application modes and two kinds of specific
protocols, namely, PIM-DM and PIM-SM. PIM-SM The management function of group members is
protocol can be applied to the group members with mainly realized by running the protocol between the
the sparse distribution mode, assuming that all host edge router and host IGMP (Internet Group
nodes in the network are not multicasting group Management Protocol), through IGMP protocol, the
members, the host computer must join the host computer can notify the edge routers positively
multicasting group through IGMP so that it can with the information of joining or leaving a specific
become a member of the multicasting group, while multicasting group, the edge routers can periodically
edge routers and other running PIM-SM protocol query LAN members of one known group to see
routers can send Hello message periodically, in order whether it is active, namely, whether this network
to discover the neighboring PIM-SM routers, still has the members belonging to the multicasting
constructing and maintaining the multicasting group to achieve even network group membership
distribution tree according to the information of information collection and maintenance. As for the
group members. PIM-SM multicasting distribution multiple accessing network group members, there
tree can have two kinds, one is sharing tree which exist multiple edge routers, IGMP must elect one
takes RP of the multicasting group as the root, the router to be responsible for querying Lan group
other is the shortest path tree which takes the membership information periodically, this router can
multicasting source as the root. PIM-SM can be called as the querying machine for group members
complete the establishment and maintenance of the of the network, while the other routers become the
multicasting distribution tree through joining and non querying machines, which can not issue periodic
pruning mechanism. During this process, PIM-SM group membership query information any longer.
needs to determine DR in the network of the group
members as well as RP and BSR in the multicasting SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY OF IP
routing networks. While PIM-DM can be applied to MULTICAST IN CAMPUS NETWORK
the group members with the dense distribution mode,
assuming that all host nodes in the multicasting Constructing IP Multicasting Network Topology
network are multicasting group members, when the
Fig.2 is IP multicasting network topology that is
multicasting source sends multicasting data, all group
constructed by the basic elements of IP multicasting
members need to receive multicasting data. The
technology and the application scenarios in campus
routers transfer the multicasting packets to all
network, the distribution of unicasting IP address can
interfaces except RPF interface, which is
be signed as the map, MultiCast-Server is as the
corresponded to the multicasting source, thus all
multicasting sever, which can simulate the
network nodes in PIM-DM domain can receive
multicasting source of the multicasting network;
multicasting packets. If there is no multicasting group
AR1220 router can simulate the multicasting router,
member in the network, the router in this area will
S5700 switch is a three-layer switch, which can
send a "prune message" to the forwarding interface
simulate the edge router of the multicasting network;
for pruning the area and establish the pruning state.
while PC1, PC2, PC3 can simulate the host computer
When a host computer wants to join a multicasting
of the network, which can apply for joining or
group in the pruning area, it sends a "graft" message
leaving the multicasting group at any time. On

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MultiCast-Server and PC host computers, VLC media player, which can constitute the basic
Media Player can be installed on the open source environment of streaming media network.

Fig. 2 IP Multicasting Network Topology

sm multicasting routing protocol, meanwhile using

Configuring IP Multicasting Network
the igmp enable command to activate the group
According to the logic function of IP multicasting member management protocol of each VLAN
network, the configuration of IP multicasting can interface of S5700 switch that is connected to the
mainly include the four parts, namely, configuration network host computer.
of unicasting network, the configuration of
multicasting source, the configuration of multicasting TEST AND ANALYSIS OF IP MULTICASTING
network as well as the configuration of group
members. During the process of configuration, both NETWORK
multicasting IP address and unicasting IP address can The test of IP multicasting network is carried on
be used. The configuration of unicasting IP network the connectivity of unicasting network, which mainly
mainly includes the IP configuration of each device test the connectivity of multicast forwarding-table of
port and routing configuration. In this example, each each equipment, so as to determine whether the
host is connected to different VLAN virtual interface, multicasting forwarding tree is established or not, this
adopting OSPF routing protocol. The configuration process involves the information of IGMP Group,
of multicasting source is mainly to assign the protocol routing-table of multicasting router,
unicasting IP of MultiCast-Server, namely, multicast routing table multicast forwarding-table. In
192.168.101.1/24, the designated multicasting group theory, IGMP query in IP multicasting network can
IP address is 224.1.1.1, meanwhile it can specify the form a group membership information table
video playback content of VLC player. The network according to the host application information of
configuration of group members is mainly to joining or exiting the multicast group. Each
configure the IP address that host computers want to multicasting routing protocol maintains a multicast
take part in the multicasting group, the corresponding routing table for the protocol, such as pim routing-
multicasting MAC address as well as the VLC player, table. The multicasting router can form multicasting
etc.. The configuration of multicasting network is routing table after combining the information of the
mainly about the configuration of AR1220 router and multicasting router, based on this, the multicasting
the configuration of S5700 switch multicasting router can form the router's forwarding table by
routing, the configuration points can be including: selecting the most multicast routing according to the
1) Use the multicasting routing-enable command multicasting routing and forwarding strategy, so as to
to enable the multicasting routing function of the control the transferring of multicasting data packet.
router and the switch. The multicast forwarding table of all multicasting
2) Use the pim sm command to configure the pim- routers is analyzed comprehensively, the whole
sm multicasting routing protocol on GE0/0/0 and network can set up a transferring route that is from
GE0/0/1 ports of AR1220 router. one point to multipoint, which takes the multicasting
3) Configure RP and BSR candidates on GE0 / 0/0 source as the root and group member as the leaf. On
port of AR1220 router. HUAWEI devices, you can use the display command
4) Use the pim sm command to configure the pim- to view the response information.

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Fig. 3 Multicast information of S5700 and AR1200

From the above multicasting information we can vlanif10 and vlanif30, which can form a transferring
see, PC1 and PC3 joined 224.1.1.1 multicasting multicasting tree, both host PC1 and PC3 can see
group, the multicasting transferring root is GE0/0/0 video multicast, shown in Fig.4. During the process
port of AR1220 router, downstream port is GE0/0/1; of multicasting, wareshark can be used to capture
in the transferring table of S5700 switch, the data packets in different links in the network to
upstream interface for is vlanif100, while the monitor the multicasting data flow.
downstream transferring ports are respectively

Fig. 4 IP multicasting video

At the same time, S5700 can quire whether there is environment, testing ans analyzing the reliable
host to join in the multicasting group in the local area relationship of transferring information among the IP
network periodically, it can observe the specific multicasting network, which also can verify the
query packet from the unjoined the multicasting transmission of IP multicasting packet as well as the
group's VLANIF20 port to capture data packets. effect of the actual experience of video multicast,
experiencing the operation of network hosts joining
CONCLUSION the multicasting group and exiting the multicasting
In this paper, it takes the basic principle of IP group, observing the characteristics of the
multicasting technology as the basis, combined with corresponding IGMP data packet. Multicasting data
network engineering practice, putting forward the streams and other unicasting data flows can go
basic framework of the application case of IP through normally. Thus this simulation method and
multicasting network, so as to realize the simulation case can be used as reference in the practice teaching
of operation under the eNSP virtual network of network engineering major, which is helpful for

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students to fully understand multicasting technology Knowledge of Theory(I) [EB/OL]. http://www.023

as well as the specific use of multicasting IP address. wg.com/Multicast/221.html，2016-07-26.

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