Unicast, Broadcast and Multicast Traffic

Overview

• 3 main IP traffic types
  • unicast: to a single destination host
    • to send to multiple hosts, separate copies of the same traffic have to be sent to each host individually
  • broadcast: to all hosts on the subnet
    • one copy of the traffic is sent everywhere throught part of a particular network
    • routers do not forward broadcast traffic
  • multicast: to multiple interested hosts
    • one copy that goes to multiple different destinations
    • in contrast to broadcast, it is targeted (that means the receiver has to request it in order to get it)
    • metaphor: think of a radio station; those who want to receive it have to tune into the frequency