How to test Multicast Packet Filtering?

Today morning I started my day testing with Multicast Packet Filtering. I had Ubuntu 9.10 and CentOS 5.4 in my VM running over ESX 4.1.I decided to make CentOS as Client and Ubuntu as server for the setup.

First of all, I downloaded iperf as yum was not feeling well today(just kidding).
Its simple to install,download the package and install. Luckily, I dint get any dependency hell.

On Ubuntu Box:

SERVER MACHINE
=====================================

sudo iperf -s -u -B 224.0.65.68 -i 1
--------------------------------------

server listening on UDP port 5001
Binding to local address 224.0.65.68
Joining multicast group 224.0.65.68
UDP Buffer size: 120 Kbytes(default)
------------------------------------------

[ 3] local 224.0.65.688 port 5001 connected with 10.112.173.86 port 38577
[ 3] 0.0.-1.0 sec 128 KBytes 1.05 Mbits/sec 0.228 ms 0/ 89 (0%)
...
...

On CenTOS Box(Client):



iperf -c 224.0.65.68 -u -T 5 -t 5
----------------------------------
Client connecting to 224.0.65.68, UDP port 5001
sending 1470 byte datagrams
setting multicast TTL to 5
UDP buffer size: 126 KBytes(default)
------------------------------------------
[ 3] local 10.112.173.86 port 38577 connected with 224.0.65.68 port 5001
[ 3] 0.0- 5.0 sec 642 Kbytes 1.05 Mbits/sec
[ 3] Sent 447 datagrams


1.It clearly shows that multicast address is 224.0.65.68.
e.g. server> iperf -s -u -B -i 1

This will have the iperf servers listening for datagram (-u) from the address (-B multicast address), with a periodic interval of 1s (-i 1)

2. Configure the client VM, connecting to the multicast group address and setting the TTL (-T, --ttl) as needed
e.g. client> iperf -c -u -T 5 -t 5

This will have the client connected to the multicast address (-c multicast address), with a TTL of 5 (-T 5), sending data for 5 seconds
NOTE: Use tcpdump or ethereal on server VMs to capture and analyze IP packets and ensure its validity.

Run the test for 120 sec.

That's it..
You Have just finally tested Multicast packet Filtering.

Have a Cool Rainy Weather in Bangalore.