Multicast, Equal-cost paths & RPF checks.......

[andrew.butterworth]

In a typical campus network with layer-3 core & distribution layers and a layer-2 access layer and lots of equal-cost paths we have a situation with multicast (PIM-SM).

The distribution layer is provided by two 7600 routers running HSRP & PIM-SM - say Distribution-Router-A has the highest IP address and is the PIM & IGMP DR for the Access-Layer VLAN, Distribution-B is the IGMP querier.

When a sender begins transmitting to a group the DR (Distribution-A) unicasts a register to the RP connected to the Core (separate router). The RP then joins the shared tree back to the source, due to the equal-cost paths this join turns-up on the non-DR router for the VLAN - the RP sent a PIM join to Core-2, Core-2 has equal-cost paths to the source VLAN via Distribution-A and Distribution-B and it just so happens the next-hop to Distribution-2 has the higher IP address so this is chosen as the RPF.

My question is this - is this supposed to happen? how does the non PIM-DR for the VLAN handle this ? Is it OK?

This is all in the design-stage at the moment so I'm open to suggestions.

Andy

[m.singer]

The following links I hope will give an idea for your queries

IP Multicast Load Splitting Across Equal Cost Paths

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/cc/techno/protocol/ipmu/prodlit/ipmul_an.htm

How to Configure a RP for PIM Sparse Mode

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/cc/pd/iosw/prodlit/rppim_rg.htm

Why Auto-RP and How to Deploy It Painlessly

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/cc/techno/protocol/ipmu/prodlit/yauto_an.htm

[andrew.butterworth]

I have lots of information on PIM, Auto-RP, Anycast etc etc The problem is I can't find anything on CCO that explains the situation I describe. Equal-cost paths yes, but not with 2 routers on a common Ethernet Segment and equal-cost paths as this introduces the PIM & IGMP DR. There is something described regarding the Non-RPF router scenario and CEF fast dropping but this specific problem at the moment is a mystery.

Anyone?

[g.pelt]

Is there a problem that it's not working? I did not understand your question 100%

For design-stage it's useful to have:

The HSRP address on the highest IP address so PIM DR and HSRP is on same box.

There is a command that you can configure the DR on the box you like, but I don't no what the command is or in what ios version its in.

Regards

Gerrit Frans

[andrew.butterworth]

Gerrit

My question was just to clarify that there should not be a problem when a non PIM/IGMP DR router that is directly connected to sources and/or receivers is actively forwarding traffic onto the network due to equal-cost unicast-routing paths and PIM's path selection technique of highest IP address if there are equal-cost paths. I wanted to know if the DR would 'object' to this happening, or would it cause a problem with paths not being pruned off?

Andy