ESnet provides full IP multicast service..

ESnet runs Sparse-Mode Protocol Independent Multicast on all production internal links. Many ESnet sites are multicast enabled and connect to the ESnet Multicast Service via a combination of Sparse-Mode PIM and MSDP. ESnet connects to a number of external multicast capable networks at peering points using PIM and MSDP.

Running a Logical RP infrastructure, ESnet has increased reliability of its multicast service. A multicast beacon is available to help in the diagnosis of connectivity problems when they arise. ESnet is capable of carrying ASM (Any Source Multicast) and SSM (Source Specific Multicast).

ESnet has deployed multicast since 1995. The first implementation used a source routed configuration between SGI workstations. As the state of multicasting progressed, Distance Vector Multicast Route Protocol (DVMRP) tunnels were established between distributed Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) Alpha workstations. ESnet multicast migrated to Dense Mode PIM running natively on backbone routers. The next stage of evolution was running Sparse Mode PIM on all backbone links.

Currently, multicast on ESnet is running on multivendor platforms. We peer with MBGP/MSDP to numerous external ISPs and use a logical Rendezvous Point (RP) arrangement internally to eliminate RP single points of failure.

ESnet recommends that all sites using IP multicast in production run a multicast beacon. At this time, the best beacon to run is the NLANR beacon. The current beacon matrix is available at http://beacon.dast.nlanr.net/