Using multicast distribution (predefined bandwidth)

Multicast delivery enables parallel software distribution to an unlimited number of client systems while simultaneously reducing server and network resource requirements and bandwidth consumption for high-volume, high population software distribution. It enables software to be distributed to thousands of desktops in the same time it takes to deliver software to a single desktop, while making optimal use of server and network resources. The multicast principle is to send a file on a virtual multicast address advertised to all target clients where each of these will get the file. Contrary to unicast the server sends the file only one time.

A software distribution via multicast consists of the following steps:

1. Modify the multicast parameters on the relay if you have a specific configuration for which the default values cannot be used. The default values are specified for a speed of 128 KB/s which should work for all types of networks.
2. Create a multicast transfer window and assign it to the multicast relay. Be aware that if a transfer window of type multicast is assigned to a relay, this relay can only execute multicast software distributions, no unicast distributions.
3. Assign the package to distribute via multicast to the targets.

This section includes following topics:

• Defining the Transfer Window
• Distributing the package via the transfer window