- #1
djeipa
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What is multicast ? I heard people say multicast but why isn't there unicast ?
What is Multicast? Why Not Unicast?
- Thread starter djeipa
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In summary, multicast is a network protocol that allows one packet of information to be sent to multiple users, instead of sending individual packets to each user (unicast). This is useful for streaming large amounts of data, such as in a DJing scenario, where sending individual packets to each listener would be unrealistic. However, multicast has not been widely adopted by companies due to a lack of development and business incentives.
- #2
mezarashi
Homework Helper
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Correction: There is unicast! You are using it right now ^_^!
Multicast is a networking term used to mean a protocol in which one packet of information can be send to multiple users instead of sending x packets to all x users (unicast). Suppose your DJing at home and have 30 people tuning in at 64kbps, that's something like 2MB/sec upload on your side, which is not realistic. But while using multicast, this isn't a problem. You just need to send it once. Unfortunately, I haven't seen much development or business incentive with multicast and that's why it's a bit slow to be adopted by companies.
Edit: Oh, lookie what I found on Wikipedia :P
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multicast
Multicast is a networking term used to mean a protocol in which one packet of information can be send to multiple users instead of sending x packets to all x users (unicast). Suppose your DJing at home and have 30 people tuning in at 64kbps, that's something like 2MB/sec upload on your side, which is not realistic. But while using multicast, this isn't a problem. You just need to send it once. Unfortunately, I haven't seen much development or business incentive with multicast and that's why it's a bit slow to be adopted by companies.
Edit: Oh, lookie what I found on Wikipedia :P
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multicast
- #3
djeipa
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Blew,blew, thanks 
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FAQ: What is Multicast? Why Not Unicast?
What is multicast and how does it differ from unicast?
Multicast is a network communication method where a single message is sent to a group of recipients. It differs from unicast, which is a one-to-one communication method, where each message is sent to a specific recipient.
How does multicast save bandwidth compared to unicast?
Multicast saves bandwidth by sending a single message to multiple receivers, rather than sending individual messages to each recipient as in unicast. This reduces network traffic and conserves bandwidth.
What types of applications use multicast instead of unicast?
Applications that involve live streaming, online gaming, or video conferencing often use multicast because it allows for efficient distribution of data to multiple recipients.
Can multicast be used over the internet?
Multicast can be used over the internet, but it requires special network infrastructure and support from Internet Service Providers (ISPs). It is not widely available and is mostly used in local area networks.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using multicast over unicast?
The main advantage of multicast is its ability to efficiently send data to multiple recipients, saving bandwidth and network resources. However, it requires special network configurations and is not as widely supported as unicast, which can lead to compatibility issues.