Dell PowerConnect 8024 User's Guide - Page 23

MLD Snooping In IPv4, Layer 2 switches can use IGMP Snooping to limit the flooding of multicast traffic by dynamically configuring Layer 2 interfaces so that multicast traffic is forwarded to only those interfaces associated with IP multicast address. In IPv6, MLD snooping performs a similar function. With MLD snooping, IPv6 multicast data is selectively forwarded to a list of ports intended to receive the data (instead of being flooded to all of the ports in a VLAN). This list is constructed by snooping IPv6 multicast control packets. IGMP Snooping Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) Snooping is a feature that allows a switch to forward multicast traffic intelligently on the switch. Multicast IP traffic is traffic that is destined to a host group. Host groups are identified by class D IP addresses, which range from 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255. Based on the IGMP query and report messages, the switch forwards traffic only to the ports that request the multicast traffic. This prevents the switch from broadcasting the traffic to all ports and possibly affecting network performance. Port Mirroring Port mirroring monitors and mirrors network traffic by forwarding copies of incoming and outgoing packets from up to four source ports to a monitoring port. Broadcast Storm Control When Layer 2 frames are forwarded, broadcast, unknown unicast, and multicast frames are flooded to all ports on the relevant virtual local area network (VLAN). The flooding occupies bandwidth, and loads all nodes connected on all ports. Storm control limits the amount of broadcast, unknown unicast, and multicast frames accepted and forwarded by the switch. Introduction 23