Recommended Multicast Mode for MediaStream Configuration on Local Mode APs

D.

When configuring MediaStream on a Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC), it is recommended to use the multicast-unicast mode for "Local mode" APs.

MediaStream is a feature that allows the direct streaming of multimedia traffic, such as audio and video, between two wireless endpoints on the same WLAN without going through the WLC. To achieve this, the WLC must be able to redirect the multicast traffic from the source endpoint to the destination endpoint without flooding it to all the APs in the WLAN.

There are four multicast modes available on a Cisco WLC: multicast-multicast, multicast-routing, multicast-unicast, and multicast-direct.

• Multicast-multicast mode is used when multicast traffic needs to be sent from multiple sources to multiple receivers within the same VLAN. In this mode, the WLC replicates the multicast traffic to all the APs in the VLAN.

• Multicast-routing mode is used when multicast traffic needs to be routed across different VLANs or subnets. In this mode, the WLC sends the multicast traffic to the multicast router, which then forwards it to the appropriate destination VLAN.

• Multicast-unicast mode is used when multicast traffic needs to be sent from a single source to a single receiver. In this mode, the WLC redirects the multicast traffic to the unicast IP address of the destination endpoint.

• Multicast-direct mode is used when multicast traffic needs to be sent from a single source to multiple receivers within the same VLAN. In this mode, the WLC forwards the multicast traffic to the multicast MAC address of the destination endpoints.

For MediaStream, it is recommended to use multicast-unicast mode for "Local mode" APs because it allows the WLC to redirect the multicast traffic from the source endpoint to the destination endpoint without flooding it to all the APs in the WLAN, thus reducing unnecessary traffic and improving network efficiency.