Do I need reliable multicast protocol?

[kevindd992002]

What is reliable multicast protocol? Do I need it installed under the protocols of my network connections?

Please do not link me to wikipedia since I already Googled about this and there aren't any direct answers to my question.

Thanks.

 

[cluberti]

If you need to run a program that sends or receives multicast packets over TCP or UDP, then you would need it. If you're asking if regular Windows usage would require it (gaming, web browsing/email, office doc work), then no.

 

[AllOnTheBus]

I concur

Multimedia streams over UDP which is connectionless and can prove to be unreliable.
It also has the disadvantage of not including data integrity checking.
RMP (and others including RMTP and PGM from Windows Server)
either runs on top of or takes the place of UDP ensuring integrity of transmitted data
and appropriate re-assembly.

If you don't need it then don't use it

 

[kevindd992002]

Oh ok. I have a Thecus NP8800 main server with all my multimedia files stored there and it usually streams to different PCs in my network. The computers in the network can access the server through the "Network" under "Computer" in Windows 7 so I guess that is over TCP. In that case, do I need to enable RMP? If I enable it and don't use it, does it have a negative effect?

 

[cluberti]

Well, if you turn it off and your media server stops working, you can always put it back . It isn't hurting anything being enabled, however, if it's not in use, so what you do is up to you ultimately.

 

[kevindd992002]

Well I want to know if what is actually being improved if it is enabled? Because disabling it doesn't do anything either.

 

[cluberti]

The protocol is only needed if an app on your box needs to receive or send multicast data over UDP or TCP. It doesn't appear, from reading the manuals and info I found online for your enclosure, that it would need this. It isn't likely to be doing anything, one way or the other, on your box.

 

[kevindd992002]

The protocol is only needed if an app on your box needs to receive or send multicast data over UDP or TCP. It doesn't appear, from reading the manuals and info I found online for your enclosure, that it would need this. It isn't likely to be doing anything, one way or the other, on your box.

Can you give me an example though, any application, that needs this?

 

[cluberti]

I don't have a good example, no - you generally aren't going to find a need for this on "commercial" applications.