MTrace Test

The NQA Multicast Trace (MTrace) test detects the multicast forwarding path from a multicast source to a destination host and collects statistics about each device along the multicast forwarding path.

The MTrace test process is as follows:

1. The multicast querier (NQA client) sends an IGMP Tracert query packet to the last-hop switch connected to the destination host.

2. After receiving the IGMP Tracert query packet, the first-hop switch connected to the destination host sends an IGMP Tracert request packet to the first-hop switch.

3. After receiving the IGMP Tracert request packet, the first-hop switch sends an IGMP Tracert response packet to the NQA client.

   From this packet, it obtains the multicast forwarding path from the multicast source to the destination host as well as information about each switch along the path.

Figure 6-15 Network for MTrace test

MTrace test results and historical records are collected in test instances. You can run commands to view the test results and historical records.