IP Multicast for Streaming RTP Media

Overview

This 2 day hands on workshop covers transport of RTP streams using IP Multicast Protocols.

It’s becoming commonplace to carry audio and video streams across large IP networks within a broadcast or media facility. Where these AV streams are intended for many destinations simultaneously use of multicast signaling protocols is essential if network resources are to be used efficiently. This practical two day workshop covers the theory and practice of implementing these protocols within IP and Ethernet networks.

The hands-on element of the course will use Cisco switches and the multicast streamers and receivers will use the cross -platform VLC application. Wireshark will be used to analyse the multicast signaling (IGMP and SAP) and the multicast media delivery (RTP).

It is not necessary to have expertise in the Cisco command line as the configuration of the devices are instructor-led as required and the aim is to build knowledge and experience that is vendor agnostic. This workshop is about putting what you know into practice, so has at least 50% practical content.

Pre-requisites

Delegates should have an excellent understanding of basics of networks including Ethernet, forwarding of Ethernet Frames, IP and IP forwarding, resilience and failover in L2/L3 networks and some exposure to design & operation of enterprise-scale networks. The should have attended the IABM Network Essentials and Advanced Networks for Broadcast Engineers courses or have equivalent experience of network configuration and management backed up by similar training and certification.

Price

IABM Member Rate – £585 / €705 / $935

Non IABM Member Rate – £1170 / €1405 / $1870

IABM Gold and Platinum members are eligible for a number of complimentary course places during the year. Please email us to check availability.

Available Dates

Course outline

Assignment and use of Class D Multicast IP address space
Mapping multicast MAC addresses (L2) to multicast IP addresses (L3).An overview of Real time Transport Protocol (RTP)
Comparison between the 3 versions of the Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) and their use in requesting RTP streams within VLANs
IGMP snooping on a L2 network
The use of multicast routing using Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) on an inter-VLAN and/or L3 routed network, including reverse path forwarding
The difference between PIM operated in Dense Mode PIM-DM and in Sparse Mode (SM)
Important timers used in IGMP and PIM protocols
Gateway resilience using Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) and mapping resilient multicast forwarding at L3 and L2 using the Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP)
Important timers and parameters in VRRP and RSTP
Operation and use of the multicast routing table to forward IP packets using a multicast destination IP address
Differences between Any Source Multicast (ASM) and Source Specific Multicast (SSM)
An overview of the Session Announcement Protocol (SAP) and it’s use in describing and announcing RTP multicast streams that can be requested using IGMP

Practical Sessions

Wireshark will be used to analyse the multicast signaling (IGMP and SAP) and also the multicast media delivery (RTP)

Lab 1. Multicast Forwarding at L2 and IGMP Snooping
Lab 2. Multicast Forwarding at L3 across VLANs using IGMP and PIM
Lab 3. Announcement of multicast streams in L2/L3 networks using SAP and the mini-SAP Server
Lab 4. Load balancing and failover of multicast streams carried in separate VLANs across a resilient Layer 2 network consisting of leaf (access) switches and 2 redundant spine (core) switches

Optional Labs

Depending on available time

Lab 5. Multicast forwarding across VLAN boundaries in resilient Layer 3 networks consisting of leaf (access) switches and 2 redundant spine (core) switches
Lab 6. Multicast forwarding over a routed L3 network using PIM-SM