How does IGMP Snooping work in a switched network?

IGMP Snooping (Internet Group Management Protocol Snooping) is a feature commonly found in managed Ethernet switches. It is designed to optimize the multicast traffic within a switched network by intelligently forwarding multicast traffic only to the ports where hosts have expressed interest in receiving such traffic.

Here's a basic explanation of how IGMP Snooping works in a switched network:

1. Multicast Groups and IGMP:
   • Multicast traffic is a type of communication where data is sent from one source to multiple receivers.
   • IGMP is a protocol used by hosts to signal their interest in receiving multicast traffic. Hosts send IGMP messages to join or leave multicast groups.
2. Switch Learning:
   • When a switch first receives multicast traffic, it doesn't have information about which ports have hosts interested in receiving that multicast traffic.
   • The switch uses traditional MAC address learning to build its MAC address table, but it doesn't have specific information about multicast group memberships.
3. IGMP Snooping Enabled:
   • With IGMP Snooping enabled on the switch, the switch actively monitors IGMP messages sent by hosts.
   • When a host wants to join a multicast group, it sends an IGMP Join message. The switch snoops on these IGMP messages to learn which ports have hosts interested in specific multicast groups.
4. Table Building:
   • The switch maintains an IGMP Snooping table or database, associating multicast group addresses with the ports where hosts have joined those groups.
   • This table is dynamically updated as hosts join or leave multicast groups.
5. Selective Forwarding:
   • When the switch receives multicast traffic, it consults its IGMP Snooping table to determine which ports have hosts interested in the particular multicast group.
   • The switch then selectively forwards the multicast traffic only to the ports where interested hosts are located, instead of flooding it to all ports.
6. Optimizing Network Bandwidth:
   • By selectively forwarding multicast traffic only to the necessary ports, IGMP Snooping helps optimize network bandwidth and reduces unnecessary traffic.

IGMP Snooping allows a switch to intelligently forward multicast traffic based on the actual interest of hosts within the network, preventing unnecessary flooding and improving overall network efficiency. It's particularly beneficial in environments where multicast traffic is prevalent, such as in streaming applications or IP-based television services.