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Whereas unicast routing determines a path from one source node to one destination node, multicast routing determines a path from one source to many destinations, or from many sources to many destinations. We survey multicast routing methods for when the set of destinations is static, and for when it is dynamic. While most of the methods we review are tree based, some non-tree methods are also discussed. We survey results on the shape of multicast trees, delay constrained multicast routing, aggregation of multicast traffic, inter-domain multicast, and multicast virtual private networks. We focus on basic algorithmic principles, and mathematical models, rather than implementation level protocol details. Many historically important methods, even if not currently used, are reviewed to give perspective on the evolution of multicast routing.

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What is Multicast Routing?.- Basic Concepts in Tree Based Methods.- Dynamic Routing Methods.- Other Multicast Routing Methods.- Inter-domain and Two-level Multicast.- Aggregate Multicast Trees.- Multicast Virtual Private Networks.- References.

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From the reviews:

"Rosenberg provides an overview of multicast routing, a technique that is very useful yet not easily deployable on a large scale in today´s networks. ... The book includes a list of acronyms and an extensive set of references. ... Therefore, the readers most likely to benefit from it are ... multicast researchers, routing specialists, network developers, and graduate students interested in the topic." (Rita Puzmanova, ACM Computing Reviews, January, 2013)

"The overall plan of the book is excellent, starting with a basic overview of what multicast is (and does), including why multicast is more efficient than unicast for multiple receiver traffic streams, and the difference between broadcasting by flooding and the general concept of multicast. Eric builds on this foundation with a chapter on the various types of multicast trees (shared, source, and redundant), along with the accompanying math...If you need a refresher, or you´re looking for a good solid overview of the entire multicast space, you´d be hard pressed to find a better book that this one." (Russ White, Packet Pushers, May, 2013)

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Eric Rosenberg is Associate Professor of Art and Art History at Tufts University and author of Trauma and Visuality in Modernity (Dartmouth, 2006)

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