Transmission Methods

LAN data transmissions at Layer 2 fall into three classifications: unicast, multicast, and broadcast. In each type of transmission, a single frame is sent to one node on the network. If the frame is to be sent to more than one node on the network, the sender must send individual unicast data streams to each node.

In a unicast transmission, a single frame or packet is sent from a single source to a single destination on a network. In a multicast transmission environment, a single data frame or a single source to multiple destinations packet is copied and sent to a specific subset of nodes on the network. In a broadcast transmission environment from a single source to all nodes, a single data frame or packet is copied and sent ...

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