Multi-cast source... do they register?

mikearama

I understood that a multimedia server simply had to be programmed to send to a multicast IP address, and the multicast enabled router(s) handled the rest.

However, I just came across this white paper on anycast-rp that says the following:
"When the RP learns about a new multicast source within its own domain (through the normal PIM register mechanism), the RP encapsulates the first data packet in a Source-Active (SA) message and sends the SA to all MSDP peers."

Anycast RP - Cisco Systems

I've done some searching on this, and can't prove with any certainty that a multicast source has a "normal PIM register mechanism". Is this the case? Does a source, on top of sending to the right IP address, also have to register with the RP?

Thanks,
Mike

reaper81

This is handled by the router that the source is connected to. The router will register the source to the RP with an unicast message where the multicast is encapsulated. The RP will then send a register stop message back.