All things related to multicast

["Richard Mavrogeanes" <>]

In the "Why don't we use multicast more often" department, we have just 
concluded a 5 day interactive video broadcast from the bottom of the Atlantic 
ocean (the mission continues at www.explorethesea.com, but the interactive 
portion is over).  I received at least 25 messages from folks trying to tune 
in to the multicast but could not. Quite a few of these were along the lines 
shown in the message below, where they have I2 connectivity but cannot 
receive multicast due to "cautious network engineers".  I suspect we make 
progress in having uses complain that they cannot participate, thus putting 
pressure on the staff to allow multicast thru, but I still see lack of 
availability at the user level to be a major problem.  Personally, I find it 
amazing that institutions pay the very expensive I2 connectivity fees but, 
what, use the connetion for high speed email?  In the next few weeks, the 
interest in multicast is likely to increase as we broadcast much of Dr. 
Ballard's return to the Titanic, live, via multicast.

I think it would be great if someone in this group could create/sponsor a 
multicast IMPLEMENTATION FAQ targeted at members IT staff. We don't need a 
"what is multicast" but a "how to" FAQ. I further think this group might form 
and post a volunteer list of email and phone numbers that member's  local IT 
staff could turn to for help in setting up their networks (I cannot volunteer 
mostly because I do not have I2 access).

It would have been useful if I could tell this below user to tell their IT 
staff to contact a designated member for help...

>Cautious network engineers 

>>> "Richard Mavrogeanes" 
>>> <>
>>>  5/21/2004 5:21:02 PM >>> 
>No, all video is sent via multicast. It's hard to think of a reason why 
>you would not have it enabled unless you have very old equipment. 

>        -----Original Message----- 
>        From: J 
>        Sent: Fri 5/21/2004 6:15 PM 
>        To: Richard Mavrogeanes 
>        Cc: D 
>        Subject: RE: Explore the Sea Internet2 Video 
>        
>        

>        We're connected to Internet2 but do not have multicast enabled. 
>Will the Vbrick work? What firewall protocols, ports do you need?