Configuring PIM Sparse-Dense Mode Properties
Sparse-dense mode allows the interface to operate on a per-group basis in either sparse or dense mode. A group specified as “dense” is not mapped to an RP. Instead, data packets destined for that group are forwarded by means of PIM dense mode rules. A group specified as “sparse” is mapped to an RP, and data packets are forwarded by means of PIM sparse-mode rules. Sparse-dense mode is useful in networks implementing auto-RP for PIM sparse mode.
By default, PIM is disabled. When you enable PIM, it operates in sparse mode by default.
You can configure PIM sparse-dense mode globally or for a routing instance. This example shows how to configure PIM sparse-dense mode globally on all interfaces, specifying that the groups 224.0.1.39 and 224.0.1.40 are using dense mode.
To configure the router properties for PIM sparse-dense mode:
- Configure the dense-mode groups.
- Configure all interfaces on the routing device to use sparse-dense mode. When configuring all interfaces, exclude the fxp0.0 management interface by adding the disable statement for that interface.
- Monitor the operation of PIM sparse-dense mode by running the show pim interfaces, show pim join, show pim neighbors, and show pim statistics commands.
