This thesis presents different Internet Protocol (IP) multicasting design models and together with their implementation methods in OPNET Modeler 14.5. The models presented in this report are designed for handling various types of advanced multimedia applications and services when using the multicast communication paradigm. The architectural models presented in this thesis are independent of the routing protocols used as well as of the underlying networking environment. Several exiting challenges related to high bandwidth requirements, low network delay, and jitter are discussed together with these design models, and are simulated using the OPNET Modeler. The emerging demands for new multicast capable applications, for both real-time and non real-time traffic are considered together in this report in order to better evaluate multicast traffic requirements. Efficient routing methods, group management policies, and shortest path algorithms are also discussed in the proposed models. The pros and cons of IP multicasting are described using the Protocol Independent Multicast Sparse Mode (PIM-SM) method, in the highlight of the proposed design models. Several results related to link utilization, end-to-end delay, packet loss, PIM control traffic, Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP), and network convergence are obtained by using already available statistical methods and modules from OPNET Modeler. Our major contribution with this thesis work relates to components associated with network convergence, routing delay, and processing delay. These components are illustrated in this thesis using various OPNET metrics. Moreover, several issues related to protocol scalability, supportability, performance optimization and efficiency are also presented by using OPNET’s build in reports, i.e., executive flow and survivability analysis reports. / 0735609277

Multicast traffic is common in today's networks. We need to simulate multicast architecture to be familiarized with its functionality in all situations. This thesis describes modelling and simulation of multicast routing using OMNeT++ tool. The text introduces protocol PIM and its particular modes (DM, SM, SSM, and BiDir) with emphasis on PIM-DM. The thesis focuses especially on design and implementation of OMNeT++ extension by multicast routing protocol PIM-DM. Correctness of implementation is verified by comparison of simulation and real network on example.

With rapid expansion of interest in multimedia and distributed computing applications across the Internet increases importance of optimized delivery of group traffic. According to current situation the best practice to achieve this goal is multicasting. This masters thesis summarizes multicasting methods and facts. Also it draws conclusions from practical application of presented information on commercial project.