Ghost Solution Suite

Hi,

I would know what is the difference between "Deploying an image to multiple computers using Peer-to-Peer Multicast" and "Deploying an image to multiple computers by Multicasting using the Ghostcast server" ?

In "PXE Configuration Utility" there is a multicast tab. It's used for what ? Is it used during "Deploying an image to multiple computers using Peer-to-Peer Multicast" and "Deploying an image to multiple computers by Multicasting using the Ghostcast server" ?

Thank you and have a nice day !

Hello!

The difference between the two:

Peer-to-peer Multicast: When deploying to a group, one of the clients is designated the multicast leader. The image is sent to that machine, and that machine broadcasts the image to others in the group.

Multicasting using the Ghostcast server: An instance of the Ghostcast Server (GhostSrv.exe) is started on the server, and the multicast broadcast is sent from there.

The first (peer-to-peer) has more scalability because it can unicast the image to the multicast leader, and then it will do the multicast. This allows the broadcast to be done in a network segment that might otherwise not allow multicast to cross the subnet boundary. The Ghostcast Server uses less network bandwidth because it does not send the image twice (unicast to the multicast leader, then multicast to the clients), but it is best used in an environment with less segmentation, or fewer communication restrictions across subnet boundaries.

Thank you,

Randall Newnham

Hello,

Thank you very much for your reply !
I now clearly understand the difference.

Do you know what is the multicast tab in "PXE Configuration Utility". It's used for what ?

Thank you.

Yes. That determines the protocol used for the delivery of the TFTP package (the boot image). "Enable MTFTP" allows use of multicast for the boot image, which is more efficient when you are PXE booting large groups of machines.

Did that cover your questions? If so, I'd appreciate it if you marked my previous comment as the solution.

Thank you!

Marking Randall's answer as the solution as nixan has fallen from the edge of our flat earth...