BCA / B.Tech 20 min read

Casting in IPv4

Casting in Hindi | Casting in Hindi:


  • In IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4), there are various types of casting methods that are used for data transmission in different parts of the network.
  • The four types of casting in IPv4 – unicast, broadcast, multicast, and anycast – are used in various networking requirements and situations.
  • Unicast is the most common and widely used, while broadcast is ideal for sending a message across the entire network.
  • Multicasting is useful for specific groups, and anycasting is a special type of casting for routing and traffic optimization.
  • These casting types determine how data will be spread across the network, which types of users it will reach, and at what level network resources will be used. In IPv4, there are mainly four types of casting methods:
Types of Cast in Hindi | Types of Casting:

  • Unicast
  • Broadcast
  • Multicast
  • Anycast

Let's now understand all these types in detail:

1. Unicast

Unicast is the most common and widely used casting method in IPv4. It is a one-to-one communication system, where data is sent from one source to a specific destination. In unicast, every packet is for a specific device (like a computer, server, or router) with a specific IP address.


Important points of unicast:

  • Method of sending a message: In unicast, data is sent from the source to only one destination. For example, when a user opens a web page, the HTTP request from their device to the server is sent via unicast.
  • Data Delivery: This method is suitable for delivering data to a specific device, as it ensures correct and accurate delivery of data.
  • Areas of use: Unicast is used in everyday Internet tasks such as web browsing, email, file transfer, etc.
  • IP Addressing: Each device is given a specific unicast IP address in the network.

Advantages of Unicast in Hindi | Advantages of Unicast:

  • It ensures that data reaches a specific recipient.
  • It makes efficient use of network bandwidth.
  • It is effective for small-scale communication and data transmission.

Disadvantages of Unicast in Hindi | Disadvantages of Unicast:

If the same data needs to be sent to multiple users, using unicast can be unnecessarily heavy on bandwidth.
To send the same data to multiple devices, it has to be transmitted multiple times, which leads to more use of resources.

2. Broadcast

In the broadcast casting method, a data packet is sent from one source to all devices on the network. This is called one-to-all communication because when a device broadcasts, that data reaches all connected devices in the network. In IPv4, broadcast packets are sent to a specific broadcast address, such as 255.255.255.255.

Important points of broadcast:

  • Method of sending a message: In broadcast, a data packet is sent to all devices simultaneously. For example, when a DHCP server broadcasts to assign IP addresses on a network, it tries to provide addresses to all devices.
  • Data Delivery: All devices on the network can receive broadcast data.
  • Areas of use: Broadcast is used for assigning IP addresses, in ARP (Address Resolution Protocol), and for identifying new devices on the network.
  • IP Addressing: A broadcast address is a special address that indicates all devices on the network, such as 192.168.1.255.

Advantages of Broadcast in Hindi | Advantages of Broadcast:

  • It is effective for finding any new device on the network or for giving a notification to all devices on the network.
  • It ensures that all devices receive a message simultaneously.

disadvantages of Broadcast in Hindi | Disadvantages of Broadcast:

  • Broadcasting can create excessive traffic on the network, which can reduce network capacity.
  • In large networks, broadcasting can flood the network, which can affect other traffic.
  • Every device has to process the broadcast message, even if it does not need that message.

3. Multicast

In the multicast casting method, a data packet is sent from one source to a specific group, i.e., one-to-many communication. Multicast is used in situations where data needs to be sent only to those devices that are interested in that data, but not to all devices.

Important points of multicast:

  • Method of sending a message: In multicasting, a data packet is sent only to those devices that are part of that multicast group. For example, in live video streaming, only those devices that are interested in that stream receive the data.
  • Data Delivery: All members of a multicast group can receive the same data at the same time.
  • Areas of use: Multicast is used in video conferencing, live streaming, IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), and online gaming.
  • IP Addressing: A specific multicast address is used for a multicast group, which is between 224.0.0.0 and 239.255.255.255.

Advantages of Multicast in Hindi | Advantages of Multicast:

  • It is more efficient than unicast because data is sent only to interested devices.
  • It saves bandwidth because the same data packet is sent to multiple devices at the same time.
  • It is ideal for applications like multimedia transmission.

Disadvantages of Multicast in Hindi | Disadvantages of Multicast:

  • The network and routers need to be specially configured for multicasting.
  • Not all networks support multicast.
  • It requires complex setup and management.

4. Anycast

Anycast is one of the least used casting methods in IPv4. It is an example of one-to-nearest communication, where a data packet is sent from one source to the nearest destination among several potential destinations. Anycasting is generally used for routing optimization, where data needs to be delivered to the destination in the shortest time.

Important points of anycast:

  • Method of sending a message: In anycasting, the same IP address can be assigned to multiple devices, and the data packet is sent to the nearest device.
  • Data Delivery: Data reaches only one destination, but this destination may be the nearest and fastest available at that time.
  • Areas of use: Anycast is used in DNS servers, Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), and routing.
  • IP Addressing: In anycasting, the same IP address is assigned to multiple locations in the network.

Advantages of Anycast in Hindi | Advantages of Anycast:

  • It ensures fast and efficient routing.
  • It reduces latency by sending network traffic to the nearest destination.
  • It is useful for load balancing in internet infrastructure.

Disadvantages of Anycast in Hindi | Disadvantages of Anycast:

  • Anycast setup and configuration can be more complex.
  • It is not widely used, as it requires special network routing.

In this Chapter

Casting in IPv4
Auto-Configuration and Anycast
Modified EUI-64 | What is Modified EUI-64?
Architecture of Mobile Computing
Wireless LAN in Hindi | What is Wireless LAN?
Wireless User Devices
MAC Protocol | What is MAC Protocol?
IEEE 802.11 | What is IEEE 802.11
Mobile IP | What is Mobile IP
Wireless TCP/IP
Unicast & Multicast Communication
Bluetooth | What is Bluetooth?
NS2 & NAM | What are NS2 and NAM?
Purpose & installation of NS2 & NAM
Background of NS2 & NAM
Architecture of NS2 & NAM
Interface of OTcl & C++
Trace Files & Formats
Protocol Support of NS2
Simulation Object of NS2 & NAM
Basic Syntax of NS2 & NAM
Node Creation of NS2 & NAM
Running NS2 & NAM
Finish Procedure NS2 & NAM
Invoking external commands within NS2
Nodes & Agents of NS2 & NAM
NS2 Commands
Creating Links in Wired Network
Setting Link Parameters
Sending Traffics Through NS2 Links
Routing Protocol Support of NS2
Scenarios in Wired Networks
Additional Parameters
Setting node positions
God object & topography
Protocol Support
Scenarios in Wireless Networks
What is the Internet? Difference Between Intranet and Extranet
Types of Internet
OSI Model and its Layers
Computer Network (CN) All Important Questions and Answers in English (MDSU)
BCA | Computer Network | 2025 Paper | MDSU Exam Paper
Importance of the Layer Model in Computer Networks
Network Classification
Network Topology
Network Switching & Components
Ethernet
Token Ring
Basic Networking Concepts & Cabling
What is a Computer in English?
Bridges in Computer Networks
Routers in Computer Networks
Gateways in Computer Networks
Public & Private Networks
FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access)
BCA | CN(Computer Network) Paper | 2023 MDSU Exam Paper
What is World Wide Web (WWW)
TDMA, SDMA, CDMA
Personal Communication System | What is PCS
IPv4 | What is IPv4?
Subnetting IPv4 Address
Private IPv4 Addressing
IPv4 Address Scheme
IPv6 Addressing Scheme
Types of IPv6 Addressing