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Omoeba's avatar
Omoeba
New Contributor
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Igmp Proxy

My router has the ability to disable igmp proxy and British Telecom (BT) igmp proxy. What is this igmp thing (heard it has something to do with multicast) and should I disable it?

The router is Netgear R8500 and the modem Arris SB6190

  • Unless you do any on network video conferencing or anything else where multicast routing is required, I would suggest disabling it. 

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  • Tecknowhelp's avatar
    Tecknowhelp
    Valued Contributor II

    Unless you do any on network video conferencing or anything else where multicast routing is required, I would suggest disabling it. 

  • Omoeba's avatar
    Omoeba
    New Contributor
    Just multiple video streaming and screen mirroring
  • Tecknowhelp's avatar
    Tecknowhelp
    Valued Contributor II

    Video streaming is usually going to use HTTPS. Mirroring will use RDP or also HTTPS. Multicast is kind of like signing up for a email group list. The same thing is being sent to everyone, but only those that send a request to be part of the thread can see it. It's used a lot by some cable boxes(IPTV), but nothing Cox uses. 

  • Omoeba's avatar
    Omoeba
    New Contributor

    Tecknowhelp said:

    Video streaming is usually going to use HTTPS. Mirroring will use RDP or also HTTPS. Multicast is kind of like signing up for a email group list. The same thing is being sent to everyone, but only those that send a request to be part of the thread can see it. It's used a lot by some cable boxes(IPTV), but nothing Cox uses. 

    s9 so I don't need igmp proxy for video streaming and screen mirroring

  • Omoeba's avatar
    Omoeba
    New Contributor

    Are there performance or security concerns about enabling it?

  • Tecknowhelp's avatar
    Tecknowhelp
    Valued Contributor II

    Since you don't need it, then don't enable it. It is difficult to discuss security vulnerabilities of something as ornate as IGMP in layman's terms. If you are still curious, feel free to look up more about it online or see this article here.

  • Tecknowhelp's avatar
    Tecknowhelp
    Valued Contributor II

    Omoeba said:
    You can be as technical as you want 

    I don't have a running knowledge of IGMP, just general practice based on messing around in wireshark. I was digging with google to try to help answer your specific question, but I really don't "want" to or have the ability to carry a entire thread on the subject.

    AFAIK the need for a IGMP proxy is rare, and I have left it disabled on my router and haven't had issue with anything streaming video(up or down), IPv6, or anything else I know of to use multicast traffic. Gaming is fine. VOIP(Google Voice) is fine.

    However if your question is what the security vulnerabilities are of leaving IGMP proxy enabled, I just don't know. Please feel free to bump the thread and hopefully someone else can comment who has more experience on the security side of things.