DSL Providers that Support Multicast & MBone? 13
kaosmunkee asks: "I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to use the MBone (Multicast Backbone) several years ago when it was just getting underway. I've recently become interested in experimenting with IP multicast and the MBone again, but my DSL provider doesn't provide IP multicast services. Pacbell doesn't either. Does anyone know of a national DSL provider that supports IP multicast?"
Re:Not Really (Score:1)
Re:Not Really (Score:1)
While the isp's certainly do see a benefit once they multicast enable (I used to run a Sat Network that transfered 20-30mbit/sec of multicast traffic). We made pretty good inroads into the cable isp's and smaller dsl providers. The big guys had too much money tied up in equipment that wouldn't support multicast, or it wouldn't scale well on their network. They (management of said companies) didn't want to hear anything about multicast. It didn't play into their model.
Not Really (Score:2)
Hope this Helps,
Patrick
Multicast unreliable (Score:2)
I'm a developer who has an app that uses Multicast. We have to fight to get the routers configured correctly all the time. I doubt you'll see most routers out there setup correctly
Re:Not Really (Score:2)
good question (Score:2)
MSN used to offer multicast connectivity, I'm not sure when they stopped. Anyone know the story on this?
A few things consumers can do:
-if you are shopping for an ISP of any kind ask about multicast and try to get the question to get as high up the chain as possible.
-Sprint offers free multicast connectivity [sprint.net] to its ISP customers, if yours peers with them let them know this. (does Sprint offer multicast connectivity to its consumer grade customers?)
-check to see if you've got multicast connectivity through this applet [multicasttech.com] from multicasttech [multicasttech.com]. If you are let other people know about your ISP, on forums like dslreports [dslreports.com]
Re:Not Really (Score:2)
Just curious, but what incentive is there for DSL providers to enable multicast anyway? I'm not trolling, or faming or anything, just asking a question; you seem to know about it. What are the benefits/costs for the company, benefits/costs for the consumer? What good is it for anyway? Thanks!
Multicast reduces bandwidth usage because if multiple users are receiving the same live stream on a network only one copy of the stream has to traverse that network.
The downside of multicast is that it requires every piece of equipment in between the source and receiver to be multicast enabled, there a costs to upgrading network infrastructure to support multicast. Operating a multicast enabled network can be complex because many of the protocols are immature, there are costs to training staff.
MBONE FAQ [columbia.edu]
Multicast FAQ [multicasttech.com] from multicasttech [multicasttech.com]
speakeasy (Score:2)
This sounds like their network supports it but not their phone drones.
Charging for peering arrangements (Score:1)
not likley (Score:1)
Find a tunnel endpoint. (Score:2)
You don't necessarily need your direct upstream provider to do multicast natively. If you can find a provider willing to provide you a tunnel then you just need an appropriate piece of hardware/software to become your end of the tunnel. Linux and FreeBSD boxes work great for this, along with most "real" cisco routers.
Start with your upstream and ask them two things. 1) If they will provide you with a tunnel and 2) If not, who are their providers so you can get a tunnel from one of them. Generally, the multicast people are fairly open to providing tunnels to people who are even indirectly connected to them, although YMMV.
Look around a bit with some Google searches and you should be able to find someone who will give you a tunnel.
--
--
Re:An alternate question. (Score:1)
Perhaps before trolling yourself you might do the same search. I have been looking for this information online; unfortunately, not many people use or even know about Multicast so most Internet providers don't advertise it and most of the "technical support" people don't know what it is. When I called up DSL.net to ask if they supported Multicast, they thought I was asking for more IP addresses(!). It took over 4 hours to find out that they don't support it or plan to support it in the near future.
Thanks for playing, please try again.
-kaosmunkee
Re:Not Really (Score:1)
I am curious about one point: you say that DSL providers have no incentive to enable Multicast on their routing infrastructure. Even if there is no benefit to them on the customer side, surely they'd see a benefit on their inbound side if enough users were using a given service (i.e. it's cheaper to pull in one stream of Linus's keynote than 400)? Or am I missing something?
Thanks again for your response.
-kaosmunkee