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IP Multicast and the Mbone

IP Multicast is an extension to the IP protocol which allows individual packets to be sent to multiple hosts on the Internet, with packet replication done by the network. Applications of IP Multicast include multi-way conferences or data dissemination to distributed receivers.

The Mbone is an overlay network on the Internet that supports IP Multicast. SWITCHlan connects several customer sites to the global Mbone and enables those sites to participate in public conferences transmitted over it, or to organize their own conferences on a national, continent- or world-wide scope.

If you are a SWITCH customer and are interested in connecting to the Mbone, please contact <noc@switch.ch> for more information.

Some multicast/Mbone tools are available from UCL.

We also maintain a list of references to IETF working documents and other information about IP Multicast.