IPTV Streams overloading CPU on 6506

[dvtestguy]

My last post leads into this...

I have a need to generate upto 1024 IPTV Streams into a 6506 and see the CPU peg at 85% plus. I'm loading them onto a VLAN so that I can connect test gear to get the streams off the one VLAN.

My question is; how can I reduce the CPU? Is there a way to maximize any bandwidth parameters, drop the packets before CPU load hit a high utilization, load balance between ports if needed, etc?

The IPTV streams are MPEG-2 and 1Mb each.

Any ideas?

 

[ADB100]

Is this multicast or unicast? If it's multicast what is the TTL set to for each stream? I have seen similar behaviour before with multicast streams where the server was configured to use a TTL of 1. If the TTL is one then this is sent to the 6509 CPU (router CPU) and handled in software as opposed to being handled in hardware.

HTH

Andy

 

[dvtestguy]

Look like multicast 224.x.x.x with TTL=255 seconds.

Are you saying that it's optimal to run multicast TTL=1 or unicast with TTL=1

 

[ADB100]

The TTL should be tailored to the actual diameter it needs to reach, depending on the design.

If your TTL is being transmitted with a TTL of 255 you should be OK. You do however state the multicast address is 224.x.x.x - if this is a link-local address this will also be handled in software. Link local addresses are 224.0.0.x and are not used for streaming applications. They are generally reserved for routing protocols and stuff that remains within the layer-2 boundary.

http://www.networksorcery.com/enp/protocol/ip/multicast.htm

HTH

Andy