Broadcast channel , broadcasting ( English broadcasting ) - a method of data transmission in computer networks in which the data stream (each transmitted packet in the case of packet transmission) is intended to be received by all participants in the network.
IP Broadcasting
Routing schemes
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anycast
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broadcast
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multicast
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unicast
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geocast
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In TCP / IP, broadcasting is possible only within the same network segment ( L2 or L3 ). However, data packets can be sent from outside the segment in which broadcasting will take place (for example, sending a packet to a broadcast IP address through a router from outside the network). The load on the network in the case of broadcasting does not differ from the usual transfer of data to one destination, since data packets do not multiply (unlike unicast ).
An example of broadcasting is determining the MAC address corresponding to a specific IP address (for example, using ARP ). In this case, a broadcast packet is sent with a request that reaches all devices connected to this L2 domain . The device with the desired IP address sends in reply a packet containing the required MAC address.
The broadcast IP address is the last address on the subnet. If the network consists of a single / 32 address, then it does not have a broadcast address.
The address 255.255.255.255 is a limited broadcast address. All hosts from any subnets within the L2 domain must respond to the packet with this destination address.
See also
- Broadcast address
- Broadcast storm