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Hi,
I have written a IPv6 multicast client and server. Client can successfully send packet to server on ff00::1 and server do receive the message. However, when server replies back to client, recvfrom never returns. sento at server does not report any error.
Any help on identifying the problem will be highly appreciable.
Thanks in advance.
BTW, this is a c program and is being tested on windows XP sp2.
Another interesting observation is that if server and client are running on same machine everything works fine. However, client could not catch response sent by multicast server if running on different machines.
In case of unicast i can send message to and fro between the same two machines.
One minor correction to original message - multicast address used is FF02::1 (all node link-local)
>> I have written a IPv6 multicast client and server. Client can successfully send packet to server on ff00::1 and server do receive the message. However, when server replies back to client, recvfrom never returns. sento at server does not report any error.
Hmm...well, my crystal ball is broken right now, so I'm afraid you'll have to be much less vague. ;)
A working code snippet to demonstrate the problem (or at least a hell of lot more information) might help.
Did the client subscribe to the correct multicast group?
Here is the code snippet.
Code:Multicast Client:
...
/* Resolve destination address for multicast datagrams */
memset(&Hints, 0, sizeof (Hints));
Hints.ai_family = PF_INET6;
Hints.ai_socktype = SOCK_DGRAM;
Hints.ai_protocol = IPPROTO_UDP;
Hints.ai_flags = AI_NUMERICHOST;
RetVal = getaddrinfo("FF02::1", "7093", &Hints, &multicastAddr);
if (RetVal != 0) {
/* error handling */ }
AI = multicastAddr;
ServSock[i] = socket(AI->ai_family, AI->ai_socktype, AI->ai_protocol);
/* Set TTL limit */
multicastTTL = 1;
if ( setsockopt(ServSock[i],IPPROTO_IPV6, IPV6_MULTICAST_HOPS ,
(char*) &multicastTTL, sizeof(multicastTTL)) != 0 ) {
/* Error handling */
}
RetVal = sendto(ServSock[i], Buffer, AmountToSend, 0,
(LPSOCKADDR) AI->ai_addr, AI->ai_addrlen);
if (RetVal == SOCKET_ERROR) {
/* Error handling */
}
.....
AmountRead = recvfrom(ServSock[i], Buffer, sizeof (Buffer), 0,
(LPSOCKADDR) &From, &Fromlen);
if (AmountRead == SOCKET_ERROR) {
/* Error handling */
}
/*********** Here is the issue
Program never comes out of recvfrom () ***/
Server code:
**********
/* Resolve the multicast group address - For joining the group */
memset(&MulticastHints, 0, sizeof(MulticastHints));
MulticastHints.ai_family = PF_INET6;
MulticastHints.ai_flags = AI_NUMERICHOST;
RetVal = getaddrinfo("FF02::1", NULL, &MulticastHints, &multicastAddr);
if (RetVal != 0) {
/* Error hanlding */ }
/* Get a local address for IPv6 family */
memset(&LocalHints, 0, sizeof (MulticastHints));
LocalHints.ai_family = PF_INET6;
LocalHints.ai_socktype = SOCK_DGRAM;
LocalHints.ai_protocol = IPPROTO_UDP;
LocalHints.ai_flags = AI_PASSIVE;
RetVal = getaddrinfo(NULL, Port, &LocalHints, &localAddr);
if (RetVal != 0) {
/* Error hanlding */
}
AI = localAddr;
...
ServSock[i] = socket(AI->ai_family, AI->ai_socktype, AI->ai_protocol);
bind(ServSock[i], AI->ai_addr, AI->ai_addrlen);
RetVal = join_multicast_group(ServSock[i], &((struct sockaddr_in6*)(multicastAddr->ai_addr))->sin6_addr,
((struct sockaddr_in6*)(multicastAddr->ai_addr))->sin6_scope_id);
if (RetVal != 0) {
/* Error handling */
}
...
AmountRead = recvfrom(ServSock[i], Buffer, sizeof (Buffer), 0,
(LPSOCKADDR) &From, &FromLen);
...
RetVal = sendto(ServSock[i], Buffer, AmtSend, 0,
(LPSOCKADDR) &From, FromLen);
...
leave_multicast_group(ServSock[i], &((struct sockaddr_in6*)(multicastAddr->ai_addr))->sin6_addr);
closesocket(ServSock[i]);
...
Now read my last question again. The client needs to join the multicast group to receive multicast messages sent to that group.
Thanks for the response.
If the server response is also sent on multicast address, it will be received by all servers and clients of the group. I want that server response is received by the original sender client only. Thats why i was replying back on the address returned by recvfrom function.
Am i correct in assuming that server can reply back as a directed call (instead of multicast call)?
If you think i am still unable to get your point, please share the corrective code snippet, if possible.
Your question doesn't really make any sense.
ServSock[i] is a socket bound to a multicast address. That means when you send out information on that socket like so:Only clients that are part of that multicast group will receive the data. Since your client does not join the multicast group, it will not receive the data.Code:RetVal = sendto(ServSock[i], Buffer, AmtSend, 0, ...
There is no such thing as a multicast call. All programs can do is send and receive data on sockets. That socket may be a unicast socket, or a multicast socket, but the system calls are the same.Quote:
Am i correct in assuming that server can reply back as a directed call (instead of multicast call)?
Good to see your response again. Thanks for all the help/suggestion you are providing.
My first question was further to your suggestion that client should also join multicast. Otherwise what is the point of sending response packet on multicast socket. Client will never catch it.
Anyways, i have figured out that client side firewall setting is the culprit.
Earlier, i added only Server exe to exception list and was facing issue: client message reaches server, but server response do not.
Now, i added server exe as well as client exe to exception list on the respective machines and found the two way communication working.
Strangely, i never required client to be exception in unicast communication. Any idea why the two cases behave differently?
As far as a firewall is concerned, the only difference between unicast and multicast is the target IP address.Quote:
Any idea why the two cases behave differently?
That's exactly what I was saying. Usually with multicast, if the communication is 2 way, then both sides will join the multicast group. If the client doesn't join the group, then how will the switches and routers between the 2 machines know to route the multicast message back to the client?Quote:
Otherwise what is the point of sending response packet on multicast socket. Client will never catch it.
Anyways, looking back at your code I see why it works for you. Your server is sending the response back as a unicast message -- not multicast. That is why your client doesn't need to join the group.
As mentioned earlier, code works for me now.
Thanks for all your support.