Multicast VLAN Registration (MVR) is a protocol that controls access to a single network-wide VLAN most commonly used for transmitting multicast traffic (such as television channels or video-on-demand) across a service provider‘s network. Any multicast traffic entering an MVR VLAN is sent to all attached subscribers. This protocol can significantly reduce to processing overhead required to dynamically monitor and establish the distribution tree for a normal multicast VLAN. This makes it possible to support common multicast services over a wide part of the network without having to use any multicast routing protocol.
MVR maintains the user isolation and data security provided by VLAN segregation by passing only multicast traffic into other VLANs to which the subscribers belong. Even though common multicast streams are passed onto different VLAN groups from the MVR VLAN, users in different IEEE 802.1Q or private VLANs cannot exchange any information (except through upper-level routing services).
Use the Multicast > MVR (Configure Global) page to configure proxy switching and the robustness variable.
Configures MVR proxy switching, where the source port acts as a host, and the receiver port acts as an MVR router with querier service enabled. (Default: Enabled)
When MVR proxy-switching is enabled, an MVR source port serves as the upstream or host interface, and the MVR receiver port serves as the querier. The source port performs only the host portion of MVR by sending summarized membership reports, and automatically disables MVR router functions.
Receiver ports are known as downstream or router interfaces. These interfaces perform the standard MVR router functions by maintaining a database of all MVR subscriptions on the downstream interface. Receiver ports must therefore be configured on all downstream interfaces which require MVR proxy service.
When the source port receives report and leave messages, it only forwards them to other source ports.
When receiver ports receive any query messages, they are dropped.
When changes occurring in the downstream MVR groups are learned by the receiver ports through report and leave messages, an MVR state change report is created and sent to the upstream source port, which in turn forwards this information upstream.
When MVR proxy switching is disabled:
Any membership reports received from receiver/source ports are forwarded to all source ports.
When a source port receives a query message, it will be forwarded to all downstream receiver ports.
When a receiver port receives a query message, it will be dropped.
Configures the expected packet loss, and thereby the number of times to generate report and group-specific queries. (Range: 1-10; Default: 2)
This parameter is used to set the number of times report messages are sent upstream when changes are learned about downstream groups, and the number of times group-specific queries are sent to downstream receiver ports.
This parameter only takes effect when MVR proxy switching is enabled.
Use the Multicast > MVR (Configure Domain) page to enable MVR globally on the switch, select the VLAN that will serve as the sole channel for common multicast streams supported by the service provider.
An independent multicast domain. (Range: 1-5)
When MVR is enabled on the switch, any multicast data associated with an MVR group is sent from all designated source ports, to all receiver ports that have registered to receive data from that multicast group. (Default: Disabled)
Identifier of the VLAN that serves as the channel for streaming multicast services using MVR. MVR source ports should be configured as members of the MVR VLAN, but MVR receiver ports should not be manually configured as members of this VLAN. (Default: 1)
Indicates whether or not all necessary conditions in the MVR environment are satisfied. Running status is Active as long as MVR is enabled, the specified MVR VLAN exists, and a source port with a valid link has been configured.
The number of MVR groups currently assigned to this domain.
The CoS priority assigned to all multicast traffic forwarded into this domain. (Range: 0-7, where 7 is the highest priority)
This parameter can be used to set a high priority for low-latency multicast traffic such as a video-conference, or to set a low priority for normal multicast traffic not sensitive to latency.
The source IP address assigned to all MVR control packets sent upstream on the specified domain. By default, all MVR reports sent upstream use a null source IP address.
Use the Multicast > MVR (Configure Profile and Associate Profile) pages to assign the multicast group address for required services to one or more MVR domains.
Command Usage
Use this Configure Profile page to statically configure all multicast group addresses that will join the MVR VLAN. Any multicast data associated an MVR group is sent from all source ports, and to all receiver ports that have registered to receive data from that multicast group.
The IP address range from 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255 is used for multicast streams. MVR group addresses cannot fall within the reserved IP multicast address range of 224.0.0.x.
IGMP snooping and MVR share a maximum number of 1024 groups. Any multicast streams received in excess of this limitation will be flooded to all ports in the associated domain.
Configure Profile
The name of a profile containing one or more MVR group addresses. (Range: 1-21 characters)
Starting IP address for an MVR multicast group. (Range: 224.0.1.0 - 239.255.255.255)
Ending IP address for an MVR multicast group. (Range: 224.0.1.0 - 239.255.255.255)
Associate Profile
An independent multicast domain. (Range: 1-5)
The name of a profile to be assigned to this domain. (Range: 1-21 characters)
Use the Multicast > MVR (Configure Interface) page to configure each interface that participates in the MVR protocol as a source port or receiver port. If you are sure that only one subscriber attached to an interface is receiving multicast services, you can enable the immediate leave function.
Command Usage
A port configured as an MVR receiver or source port can join or leave multicast groups configured under MVR. However, note that these ports can also use IGMP snooping to join or leave any other multicast groups using the standard rules for multicast filtering.
Receiver ports can belong to different VLANs, but should not be configured as a member of the MVR VLAN. MVR allows a receiver port to dynamically join or leave multicast groups sourced through the MVR VLAN. Multicast groups can also be statically assigned to a receiver port.
Receiver ports should not be statically configured as a member of the MVR VLAN. If so configured, its MVR status will be inactive.
One or more interfaces may be configured as MVR source ports. A source port is able to both receive and send data for configured MVR groups or for groups which have been statically assigned.
All source ports must belong to the MVR VLAN.
Subscribers should not be directly connected to source ports.
Immediate leave applies only to receiver ports. When enabled, the receiver port is immediately removed from the multicast group identified in the leave message. When immediate leave is disabled, the switch follows the standard rules by sending a query message to the receiver port and waiting for a response to determine if there are any remaining subscribers for that multicast group before removing the port from the group list.
Using immediate leave can speed up leave latency, but should only be enabled on a port attached to one multicast subscriber to avoid disrupting services to other group members attached to the same interface.
Immediate leave does not apply to multicast groups which have been statically assigned to a port.
Command Parameters
An independent multicast domain. (Range: 1-5)
Port identifier.
The following interface types are supported:
An uplink port that can send and receive multicast data for the groups assigned to the MVR VLAN. Note that the source port must be manually configured as a member of the MVR VLAN.
A subscriber port that can receive multicast data sent through the MVR VLAN. Any port configured as a receiver port will be dynamically added to the MVR VLAN when it forwards an IGMP report or join message from an attached host requesting any of the designated multicast services supported by the MVR VLAN. Just remember that only IGMP version 2 or 3 hosts can issue multicast join or leave messages. If MVR must be configured for an IGMP version 1 host, the multicast groups must be statically assigned.
An interface that does not participate in the MVR VLAN. (This is the default type.)
Shows if MVR traffic is being forwarded or discarded.
Shows the MVR status. MVR status for source ports is "Active" if MVR is globally enabled on the switch. MVR status for receiver ports is "Active" only if there are subscribers receiving multicast traffic from one of the MVR groups, or a multicast group has been statically assigned to an interface.
Configures the switch to immediately remove an interface from a multicast stream as soon as it receives a leave message for that group. This option only applies to an interface configured as an MVR receiver. (Default: Disabled)
The receiver port is immediately removed from the multicast group identified in the leave message.
The router/querier will not send out a group-specific query when an IGMPv2/v3 leave message is received (the same as it would without this option having been used). Instead of immediately deleting that group, it will look up the record, and only delete the group if there are no other subscribers for it on the member port. Only when all hosts on that port leave the group will the member port be deleted.
Use the Multicast > MVR (Configure Static Group Member) page to statically bind multicast groups to a port which will receive long-term multicast streams associated with a stable set of hosts.
An independent multicast domain. (Range: 1-5)
Port or trunk identifier.
VLAN identifier.
Defines a multicast service sent to the selected port. Multicast groups must be assigned from the MVR group range configured on the Configure General page.
Use the Multicast > MVR (Show Member) page to display the interfaces assigned to the MVR receiver groups.
An independent multicast domain. (Range: 1-5)
Multicast groups assigned to the MVR VLAN.
The VLAN through which the service is received. Note that this may be different from the MVR VLAN if the group address has been statically assigned.
Shows the interfaces with subscribers for multicast services provided through the MVR VLAN.
Time this service has been forwarded to attached clients.
Time before this entry expires if no membership report is received from currently active or new clients.
The number of multicast services currently being forwarded from the MVR VLAN.
Clears multicast group information dynamically learned through MVR6. Statically configured multicast addresses are not cleared.
Use the Multicast > MVR > Show Statistics pages to display MVR protocol-related statistics for the specified interface.
Query Statistics
The IP address of the querier on this interface.
The time after which this querier is assumed to have expired.
The number of general queries received on this interface.
The number of general queries sent from this interface.
The number of specific queries received on this interface.
The number of specific queries sent from this interface.
The number of reports sent from this interface.
The number of leaves sent from this interface.
VLAN, Port, and Trunk Statistics
Input Statistics
The number of IGMP membership reports received on this interface.
The number of leave messages received on this interface.
The number of general query messages received on this interface.
The number of group specific or group-and-source specific query messages received on this interface.
The number of times a report, leave or query was dropped. Packets may be dropped due to invalid format, rate limiting, packet content not allowed, or MVR group report received.
The number of times a multicast group was successfully joined.
The number of MVR groups active on this interface.
Output Statistics
The number of IGMP membership reports sent from this interface.
The number of leave messages sent from this interface.
The number of general query messages sent from this interface.
The number of group specific or group-and-source specific query messages sent from this interface.