Achieving IP-multicast functionality in the asynchronous transfer mode environment

Because ATM provides a faster transfer mechanism than more conventional network technologies such as packet switching and Ethernet, there is a great deal of interest in running current protocols such as IP over ATM. This will provide an easy bridge between current networking protocols and applications and future ATM-only protocols and applications. This paper examines the properties of IP-multicast and attempts to show how ATM networks can achieve the same functionality in order to run IP-multicast protocols over ATM networks. Work currently being done in running IP-multicast over ATM is evaluated and recommendations for possible additions and enhancements are made