[ale] Broadcasts on TCP/IP?

[Todd R. Palmer]

> Can broadcasts be used reasonable on TCP/IP given its connection orientation?
> 
> Any thoughts?

If you are looking for a protocol to do routable broadcasting, check 
into IP Mulitcast.  It uses UDP/IP, but it routable (if the router 
supports it), unlike UDP broadcast.

The idea of a TCP/IP broadcast defeats the purpose.  Each client 
would have to respond and then open a connection to the server, and 
the server would have to have a connection to each client.  Too much 
overhead to maintain (what if you have 12,000 clients?).  IP Multicast 
works by allowing you to join a "Mulitcast Group", which basically 
tells your nic to listen on a "Multicast Group Address".  You can join 
as many groups as you want.  The server then broadcasts on the 
multicast group address, and it is received by anyone who is 
listening.

Just my $0.02.

todd

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The 2 most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity.

Todd Palmer
Developer
t2palmer at avana.net
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