9
Figure 7 IPv6-to-MAC address mapping
IMPORTANT:
Because of the duplicate mapping from multicast IP address to multicast MAC address, the device mi
ht
inadvertently send multicast protocol packets as multicast data in Layer 2 forwardin
. To avoid this, do no
use the IP multicast addresses that are mapped to multicast MAC addresses 0100-5E00-00xx and
3333-0000-00xx (where "x" represents any hexadecimal number from 0 to F).
Multicast protocols
Multicast protocols include the following categories:
• Layer 3 and Layer 2 multicast protocols:
{ Layer 3 multicast refers to IP multicast working at the network layer.
Layer 3 multicast protocols—IGMP, MLD, PIM, IPv6 PIM, MSDP, MBGP, and IPv6 MBGP.
{ Layer 2 multicast refers to IP multicast working at the data link layer.
Layer 2 multicast protocols—IGMP snooping and MLD snooping.
• IPv4 and IPv6 multicast protocols:
{ For IPv4 networks—IGMP snooping, IGMP, PIM, MSDP, and MBGP.
{ For IPv6 networks—MLD snooping, MLD, IPv6 PIM, and IPv6 MBGP.
This section provides only general descriptions about applications and functions of the Layer 2 and Layer
3 multicast protocols in a network. For more information about these protocols, see the related chapters.
Layer 3 multicast protocols
Layer 3 multicast protocols include multicast group management protocols and multicast routing
protocols.