IP multicast routing through ATM networks

The purpose of this paper is to have a closer look at the ‘core’ technology providing interworking between connectionless TCP/IP internetworks and switched ATM networks. The scope of the paper is IP multicast, while the main focus is on the network side of multicast, more precisely, on layers three and two of Internet architecture dealing with IP multicast routing. The paper analyses both practically available solutions and those being currently under discussion in IETF as Internet drafts. As a background of this comparison, the possible convergence of IP and ATM multicast service models is discussed. Major conclusions, based on simulation studies and scalability analysis are: (i) the high mapping overhead requires a separate address resolution service for unicast and multicast addresses; and (ii) efficient convergence has to make obsolete classical IP over ATM (M. Laubach, Classical IP and ARP over ATM, Network Working Group, Request for Comments: 1577, Category: Standards Track, January, 1994 1]) in order to permit ‘cut-through’ within the ATM domain.