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Configure Multicast

  • Multicast allows efficient one-to-many traffic distribution across Enterprise Connect by sending a single stream that is replicated only where needed.
  • Enterprise Connect supports Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) with Source-Specific Multicast (SSM) by default and optional Sparse Mode (SM) for classic multicast scenarios.
  • Multicast configuration is performed centrally on VPN and on VLAN level of each site.

Prerequisites​

  • Supported CPE models:
    • Huawei AR8140 (physical CPE, Advanced License required)
    • Business Box / AR6700v-L (uCPE)
  • Interworking Gateway (IWG): AR6700v-L
  • Supported EC flavors: EC-M, EC-L, EC-XL
  • EC-XL sites must be without sync link (NSL)
  • The Multicast option must be commercially enabled on agreement level

Restrictions and Notes​

  • Static routing and VRRP: Multicast is not supported when customer routers use static routes pointing to VRRP virtual IPs. As a workaround, floating static routes towards the physical CPE IPs can be used.
  • Multicast flow limit: A maximum of 256 multicast flows is supported per tenant.
  • EC-XL-NSL VLAN usage: On EC-XL sites without sync link, multicast can be configured either on Campus-wide VLANs or CPE-only VLANs. The first multicast-enabled VLAN defines the allowed usage.
  • Failover behavior: In EC-XL-NSL scenarios, multicast convergence after failover can be slower due to PIM Designated Router (DR) election and WAN convergence.

Configuration​

Enable Multicast on VPN Level​

  1. Under VPN > select the corresponding VPN.
  2. Enable Multicast using the toggle button.
  3. The following options become available:
    • PIM SSM (Source-Specific Multicast)
      • Enabled by default and cannot be disabled
      • Default SSM range: 232.0.0.0/8
    • PIM SM (Sparse Mode)
      • Disabled by default
      • Can be enabled if required
  4. When enabling PIM SM, a static Rendezvous Point (RP) must be configured.
  5. Enter the RP IP address:
    • This IP address is configured as a loopback address on every CPE attached to this VPN.
    • Each CPE acts as RP.
  6. Click Save and submit the order.
note

Multicast cannot be disabled on VPN level as long as at least one VLAN has multicast-specific configuration.

Configure Multicast on VLAN Level​

  1. Go to Locations > VLANs.
  2. Open the VLAN that should be used for multicast.
  3. Select the VPN on which multicast was enabled.
  4. Open the Multicast tab.
note

The Multicast tab is only visible if:

  • Multicast is enabled on the selected VPN
  • The CPE model supports multicast
  • For EC-XL, the site is without sync link
  1. Click (+) Add IGMP / PIM.
  2. Select the VLAN–VPN combination.
  3. Choose the IGMP version:
    • IGMPv2
      • Only supported if PIM SM is enabled on VPN level
    • IGMPv3
      • Supported in all cases
      • Recommended and required for SSM
  4. (Optional) Configure Static Joins:
    • Define multicast group addresses
    • When using IGMPv3, optionally specify a source address for SSM
note

The source address field is only shown for IGMPv3. Leaving it empty implicitly means “any source”.

  1. PIM BFD is automatically enabled when PIM SM is active and cannot be disabled.
note

To request deactivation, contact Swisscom support.

  1. Save the VLAN configuration and submit the order.

EC-XL without Sync Link – VLAN Usage Overview​

  • Campus-wide VLAN
    • Used when multicast traffic must be shared across both CPEs and internal LAN segments
    • Requires PIM/IGMP to be enabled on the same VLAN used for the implicit iBGP session
    • For every multicast-enabled campus-wide VLAN, the CPE IP addresses between CPE 1 and CPE 2 will be swapped such that the new active CPE has the higher IP address.
  • CPE-only VLAN
    • Used when multicast is limited to CPE-level routing without campus-wide distribution
    • No implicit dependencies to iBGP or MSDP
note

On EC-XL sites without sync link, Multicast can only be configured either on Campus-wide VLANs or CPE-only VLANs. The first multicast-enabled VLAN defines the mode and restricts further VLAN creation accordingly. Multicast

Additional Information​

  • Replicators and MSDP peers are handled automatically by the platform and are not configurable by the customer.
  • The Dashboard provides a read-only view of automatically managed MSDP peers under Routing > Infrastructure MSDP Peer.