Prisma SD-WAN Multicast Routing
Table of Contents
Prisma SD-WAN Multicast Routing
Learn how to configure multicast routing in Prisma SD-WAN.
| Where Can I Use This? | What Do I Need? |
|---|---|
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IP multicast is a set of protocols that
network appliances use to send multicast IP datagrams to a group
of interested receivers using one transmission rather than unicasting
the traffic to multiple receivers, thereby saving bandwidth. IP
multicast is suitable for communication from one source (or many
sources) to many receivers, such as audio or video streaming, IPTV,
video conferencing, and distribution of other communication, such
as news and financial data.A multicast address identifies a group
of receivers that want to receive the traffic going to that address.
You should not use the multicast addresses reserved for special
uses, such as the range 224.0.0.0 through 224.0.0.255 or 239.0.0.0
through 239.255.255.255. Multicast traffic uses UDP, which does
not resend missed packets.
Starting with Release 6.0.1, Prisma SD-WAN ION devices support
multicast over WAN and LAN. A branch site supports LAN multicast
senders and receivers, although it can only receive WAN multicast
traffic. A data center site transmits multicast traffic to connected branch
sites over VPNs that are established over WAN underlay interfaces.
A data center site does not support receivers connected to it.
For device software versions greater than or equal to 6.2.1:
- A data center site supports a maximum of 400 branch sites for multicast traffic.
- For a specific multicast group, a data center site supports a maximum of 400 branch sites subscribing to that multicast group.
For device software versions between 6.0.1 and 6.2.1:
- A data center site supports a maximum of 250 branch sites.
- For a specific multicast group, a data center site supports a maximum of 64 branch sites subscribing to that multicast group.
For Release 6.0.1, Prisma SD-WAN supports WAN multicast
on VPN over public only. Ensure that you have modified the cost
of your LTE circuit so as to avoid receiving multicast traffic on
your LTE/Metered circuit.
Data center ION devices running software versions lower than
6.0.1 do not support multicast. Use the following table to view
the multicast support per device type and software version.
| ION Device Software Version | Type of Site | Type of Multicast Supported |
|---|---|---|
| Lower than 6.0.x but higher than or equal to 5.6.1 | Branch Site | Supports multicast on LAN interfaces only. |
| Lower than 6.0.x | Data Center Site | Does not support multicast. |
| 6.0.1 and higher | Branch Site | Supports multicast on LAN and Prisma SD-WAN VPN (public only) interfaces. |
| 6.0.1 and higher | Data Center Site | Receives multicast from peers and transmits to branch sites over Prisma SD-WAN VPN (public only). |
| 6.1.1 and higher | Data Center Site | Receives multicast from peers and branch sites and transmits to branch sites over public and private Prisma SD-WAN VPNs. |
Interfaces Supporting LAN and WAN Multicast
A branch ION device supports multicast on a maximum of 30 PIM
interfaces, including VLAN sub-interfaces. Multicast is not supported
with secondary addresses on an interface; that is, only the primary
address is considered and secondary addresses are not sent in a
PIM HELLO packet to a neighbor.
| ION Device | Type of Interface/Used For | Multicast Support | Can Multicast be configured on the Interface? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Branch Site | Port (LAN) | Yes (Transmit + Receive) | Yes |
| Branch Site | Sub-interface (VLAN) | Yes (Transmit + Receive) | Yes |
| Branch Site | Port (WAN) | Yes (Receive only over Prisma SD-WAN VPN (public only)) | No (Only global configuration is possible) |
| Branch Site/Data Center Site | Virtual Interface | No | No |
| Branch Site | Secondary IP address on an interface | No | No |
| Data Center Site | Port (Peer with a Network for Use This Port For) | Yes, only if a Private WAN circuit label is not attached. Can receive multicast traffic from peers and transmit to branch sites over public and private Prisma SD-WAN VPNs. | With a Private WAN circuit label attached—You cannot
configure an interface for multicast, if you have assigned a Private
WAN circuit label. Without a Private WAN circuit label—You
can configure an interface, but this interface can only source multicast
traffic from an upstream multicast router. |
| Data Center Site | Port (Use This Port For — Public) | No. Can receive multicast traffic from peers and transmit to branch sites over public and private Prisma SD-WAN VPNs. | No |
You can enable LAN interfaces on the ION device for multicast
only if you:
- Enable L3 Direct Private WAN Forwarding on the branch ION device.
- Enable L3 LAN Forwarding on the branch ION device.
Starting with Release 6.1.1, Prisma SD-WAN supports Branch Side
Source (BSS) multicast. This allows receivers at a branch site to
receive multicast traffic from another branch site over the WAN.
The receiver at a branch site sends a Join request for the BSS groups to
the data center site. The data center site then forwards this Join
request to the transmitting branch site. Multicast traffic is replicated to
the branch sites only via the corresponding data center sites.
In order to configure LAN multicast routing, you need to configure
a Rendezvous Point (RP) and enable multicast on at least one layer
3 LAN interface in the network.
In order to configure WAN multicast routing, you have to create
a WAN multicast configuration profile and associate it with a branch site.
You have to enable multicast on the data center ION device. You
can either create a static RP or learn RPs dynamically.
To receive multicast traffic from a sourcing branch site:
- Enable Receive traffic from branch side sources in the WAN multicast configuration profile.
- Configure the source address and multicast group details in the sender branch site’s configuration details.
Use the following links to configure multicast.
- Enable multicast on interfaces.
- Configure global multicast parameters.
- For WAN multicast, create a WAN multicast configuration profile.
- For WAN multicast, associate a WAN multicast configuration profile with a branch site.
- Configure a multicast static Rendezvous Point (RP).
- Learn Rendezvous Points (RPs) Dynamically
- (Optional)View multicast interface statistics.
- (Optional)View Routing Statistics