When to Use Multicast vs. Unicast

 Last reviewed: September 16, 1997
Article ID: Q165015
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft NetShow version 2.0

SUMMARY

This article discusses when you should use Multicast vs. Unicast.

MORE INFORMATION

Who is your audience? Internet or intranet? If you are multicasting, it gives you a very low consistent amount of bandwidth used, and all points between the client and server must be enabled for multicast.

NOTE: All of the routers between the two must be multicast enabled, or you can do UNIX tunneling to get around non-multicast enabled routers.

Overall, the Internet is not quite ready to support multicast traffic. Therefore, multicasting is currently more suited for an intranet. It does work well on a controlled intranet to reduce the amount of bandwidth you use for NetShow streams.

Additional query words: ns
Keywords : kbother nssrv nsmulti kbfaq
Version : 2.00
Platform : WINDOWS

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: September 16, 1997
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.