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Multicast PIM-ASM/SSM Configuration Guide

This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step tutorial for establishing IPv4 Multicast networks on the Asterfusion Open Intelligent Gateway. By leveraging the high-performance VPP data plane, you will learn how to build multicast routing architectures that are both highly efficient and scalable for enterprise and data center environments.

By following this guide, you will learn how to deploy robust multicast architectures. The configuration scenarios are structured into two distinct phases:

  • Scenario 1: Basic PIM-SM with Static RP Establishing a foundational PIM-ASM network using OSPF as the underlay routing protocol with a central Rendezvous Point.
  • Scenario 2: Multicast over BGP Deploying PIM-ASM over a BGP underlay to validate advanced RPF checks within a typical Spine-Leaf topology.

-** Scenario 3: PIM-SSM Built directly upon the underlay established in Phase 1, this scenario demonstrates how to migrate to a highly efficient, RP-less architecture using IGMPv3 and explicit (S, G) tree building.*

In this scenario, we establish a standard PIM-SM domain without using Loopback interfaces. The Spine’s Ethernet1 IP (10.0.1.2) serves as the Static RP for the entire domain.

Device Roles:

  • Source DR (Leaf1): Gateway for the Multicast Source.
  • RP (Spine): The central Rendezvous Point. Its downlink interface IP (10.0.1.2) is used as the RP address.
  • Receiver DR (Leaf2): Gateway for the Receiver, running IGMPv3.

RoleDeviceInterfaceIP AddressFunction
Source DRLeaf1Ethernet 1 (Downlink)192.168.10.1/24Connects to Source PC
Ethernet 2 (Uplink)10.0.1.1/30Connects to Spine (Ethernet1)
RP / SpineSpineEthernet 1 (Downlink)10.0.1.2/30Connects to Leaf1 (RP Address)
Ethernet 3 (Downlink)10.0.2.1/30Connects to Leaf2
Receiver DRLeaf2Ethernet 1
(Uplink)
10.0.2.2/30Connects to Spine (Ethernet3)
Ethernet 2 (Downlink)192.168.20.1/24Connects to Receiver PC

***## Configuration Steps

###****Configure Source DR (Leaf1)

Leaf1 connects to the Source PC via Ethernet 1 and the Spine via Ethernet 2. The critical step is enabling the** unknown-multicast trap **to ensure the first multicast packet is sent to the CPU for PIM registration.

Terminal window
sonic# configure terminal
# 1.Configure Interfaces
sonic(config)# interface ethernet 1
sonic(config-if-1)# description Link_to_Source_PC
sonic(config-if-1)# ip address 192.168.10.1/24
sonic(config-if-1)# ip pim
sonic(config-if-1)# exit
sonic(config)# interface ethernet 2
sonic(config-if-2)# description Link_to_Spine
sonic(config-if-2)# ip address 10.0.1.1/30
sonic(config-if-2)# ip pim
sonic(config-if-2)# exit
# 2.Enable Control Plane Trap
sonic(config)# unknown-multicast trap
# 3.Configure Static RP
sonic(config)# ip pim rp 10.0.1.2 224.0.0.0/4
# 4.Configure Underlay Routing (OSPF)
sonic(config)# router ospf
sonic(config-router)# network 10.0.1.0/30 area 0
sonic(config-router)# network 192.168.10.0/24 area 0
sonic(config-router)# exit

The Spine acts as the Rendezvous Point. We use the IP address of Ethernet 1 (10.0.1.2) as the RP address for the entire network.

Terminal window
1.Configure Interfaces
sonic(config)# interface ethernet 1
sonic(config-if-1)# description Link_to_Leaf1
sonic(config-if-1)# ip address 10.0.1.2/30
sonic(config-if-1)# ip pim
sonic(config-if-1)# exit
sonic(config)# interface ethernet 3
sonic(config-if-3)# description Link_to_Leaf2
sonic(config-if-3)# ip address 10.0.2.1/30
sonic(config-if-3)# ip pim
sonic(config-if-3)# exit
# 2.Configure Static RP
sonic(config)# ip pim rp 10.0.1.2 224.0.0.0/4
# 3.Configure Underlay Routing (OSPF)
sonic(config)# router ospf
sonic(config-router)# network 10.0.1.0/30 area 0
sonic(config-router)# network 10.0.2.0/30 area 0
sonic(config-router)# exit

Leaf2 connects to the Spine via Ethernet 1 and the Receiver PC via Ethernet 2. IGMPv3 is explicitly enabled on the receiver-facing interface.

Terminal window
1.Configure Interfaces
sonic(config)# interface ethernet 1
sonic(config-if-1)# description Link_to_Spine
sonic(config-if-1)# ip address 10.0.2.2/30
sonic(config-if-1)# ip pim
sonic(config-if-1)# exit
sonic(config)# interface ethernet 2
sonic(config-if-2)# description Link_to_Receiver_PC
sonic(config-if-2)# ip address 192.168.20.1/24
sonic(config-if-2)# ip igmp
sonic(config-if-2)# ip pim
sonic(config-if)# exit
# 2.Configure Static RP
sonic(config)# ip pim rp 10.0.1.2 224.0.0.0/4
# 3.Configure Underlay Routing (OSPF)
sonic(config)# router ospf
sonic(config-router)# network 10.0.2.0/30 area 0
sonic(config-router)# network 192.168.20.0/24 area 0
sonic(config-router)# exit
```***
## Verification
### ****Control Plane Verification
- Verify PIM Neighbors (on Spine)
```bash
sonic# show ip pim neighbor

  • Verify RP Mapping (Any Device)
Terminal window
sonic# show ip pim rp-info

###****Data Plane Verification

Send multicast traffic from Source (192.168.10.10) to Group (239.1.1.1) and have the Receiver join the group.

  • Leaf1 (Source DR) - Verify Registration
Terminal window
sonic# show ip mroute

  • Spine (RP) - Verify Forwarding Tree
Terminal window
sonic# show ip mroute

  • Leaf2 (Receiver DR) - Verify Reception
Terminal window
sonic# show ip mroute

***

Scenario 2: Multicast over BGP (Data Center Architecture)

Section titled “Scenario 2: Multicast over BGP (Data Center Architecture)”

This scenario replicates a typical Data Center Spine-Leaf architecture using BGP as the underlay routing protocol. Unlike OSPF, BGP does not automatically flood routing information. This scenario validates that the AsterNOS PIM stack can correctly perform RPF (Reverse Path Forwarding) checks based on BGP routing tables.

Key Changes:

  • Underlay Protocol: Replaced OSPF with BGP.
  • Routing Logic: Leaf2 must learn the RP address via BGP to send PIM Join messages.

Leaf1 connects to the Source (192.168.10.10). It must advertise the source subnet into BGP so the Spine knows where the multicast source is located.

Terminal window
1.Interface Configuration
sonic(config)# interface ethernet 1
sonic(config-if-1)# ip address 192.168.10.1/24
sonic(config-if-1)# ip pim
sonic(config-if-1)# exit
sonic(config)# interface ethernet 2
sonic(config-if-2)# ip address 10.0.1.1/30
sonic(config-if-2)# ip pim
sonic(config-if-2)# exit
# 2. Enable Control Plane Trap
sonic#(config)# unknown-multicast trap
# 3.Static RP Configuration
sonic(config)# ip pim rp 10.0.1.2 224.0.0.0/4
# 4.BGP Configuration (AS 65001)
sonic(config)# router bgp 65001
sonic(config-router)# bgp router-id 1.1.1.1
sonic(config-router)# no bgp ebgp-requires-policy
sonic(config-router)# bgp default ipv4-unicast
sonic(config-router)# neighbor 10.0.1.2 remote-as 65000
sonic(config-router)# address-family ipv4 unicast
sonic(config-router-af)# neighbor 10.0.1.2 activate
sonic(config-router-af)# network 192.168.10.0/24
sonic(config-router-af)# exit
sonic(config-router)# exit
Terminal window
1.Interface Configuration
sonic(config)# interface ethernet 1
sonic(config-if-1)# ip address 10.0.1.2/30
sonic(config-if-1)# ip pim
sonic(config-if-1)# exit
sonic(config)# interface ethernet 3
sonic(config-if-3)# ip address 10.0.2.1/30
sonic(config-if-3)# ip pim
sonic(config-if-3)# exit
# 2.Static RP Configuration
sonic(config)# ip pim rp 10.0.1.2 224.0.0.0/4
# 3.BGP Configuration (AS 65000)
sonic(config)# router bgp 65000
sonic(config-router)# bgp router-id 2.2.2.2
sonic(config-router)# no bgp ebgp-requires-policy
sonic(config-router)# bgp default ipv4-unicast
sonic(config-router)# neighbor 10.0.1.1 remote-as 65001
sonic(config-router)# neighbor 10.0.2.2 remote-as 65002
sonic(config-router)# address-family ipv4 unicast
sonic(config-router-af)# neighbor 10.0.1.1 activate
sonic(config-router-af)# neighbor 10.0.2.2 activate
sonic(config-router-af)# network 10.0.1.0/30
sonic(config-router-af)# exit
sonic(config-router)# exit

Leaf2 (AS 65002) connects to the Receiver. It learns the RP route via BGP.

Terminal window
1.Interface Configuration
sonic(config)# interface ethernet 1
sonic(config-if-1)# ip address 10.0.2.2/30
sonic(config-if-1)# ip pim
sonic(config-if-1)# exit
sonic(config)# interface ethernet 2
sonic(config-if-2)# ip address 192.168.20.1/24
sonic(config-if-2)# ip pim
sonic(config-if-2)# ip igmp
sonic(config-if-2)# exit
# 2.Static RP Configuration
sonic(config)# ip pim rp 10.0.1.2 224.0.0.0/4
# 3.BGP Configuration (AS 65002)
sonic(config)# router bgp 65002
sonic(config-router)# bgp router-id 3.3.3.3
sonic(config-router)# no bgp ebgp-requires-policy
sonic(config-router)# bgp default ipv4-unicast
sonic(config-router)# neighbor 10.0.2.1 remote-as 65000
sonic(config-router)# address-family ipv4 unicast
sonic(config-router-af)# neighbor 10.0.2.1 activate
sonic(config-router-af)# network 192.168.20.0/24
sonic(config-router-af)# exit
sonic(config-router)# exit
Terminal window
sonic# show ip route
  • Leaf1:

  • RP:

  • Leaf2:

Check the multicast routing table** after **the receiver joins the group.

Terminal window
sonic# show ip mroute
  • Leaf1:

  • RP:

  • Leaf2:

***

Scenario 3: PIM-SSM (Source Specific Multicast)

Section titled “Scenario 3: PIM-SSM (Source Specific Multicast)”

This scenario demonstrates the transition from ASM to PIM-SSM. In this mode, the RP is eliminated, and the multicast distribution tree is built directly from the receiver to the source using IGMPv3.

Configuration Steps****This configuration assumes the physical underlay (Scenario 1 or 2) is** already **functional.

Section titled “Configuration Steps****This configuration assumes the physical underlay (Scenario 1 or 2) is** already **functional.”

To process Source-Specific joins, the receiver-facing interface on Leaf2 must be upgraded to IGMP version 3.

Terminal window
sonic(config)# interface ethernet 2
sonic(config-if)# ip igmp version 3
sonic(config-if)# exit

The core of SSM is the complete absence of a Rendezvous Point. You must remove the static RP configuration from** Leaf1, Spine, and Leaf2** to tear down the ASM shared tree mechanism.

Terminal window
sonic(config)# no ip pim rp 10.0.1.2 224.0.0.0/4

To establish the SSM Shortest Path Tree (SPT), the following conditions must be met by the end-stations:

  • Source Side: Outbound multicast traffic must target a destination IP within 232.0.0.0/8.
  • Receiver Side: The host must issue an IGMPv3 Membership Report that includes the specific Source IP (192.168.10.10) and Group IP.

***## Verification

Check the IGMP groups on Leaf2 to ensure the receiver has successfully sent an IGMPv3 Source-Specific Join.

Terminal window
sonic# show ip igmp groups

Check the multicast routing table on Leaf2 to confirm the Shortest Path Tree (SPT) has been established directly to the source.

Terminal window
sonic# show ip mroute

***

This guide has verified the comprehensive multicast routing capabilities of AsterNOS, enabling highly efficient traffic distribution across diverse topologies. The completed scenarios demonstrate that AsterNOS provides the essential flexibility required for modern networks, seamlessly supporting both traditional PIM-ASM and advanced, RP-less PIM-SSM architectures.