Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for supporting both Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) and GARP (Generic Attribute Registration Protocol) Multicast Registration Protocol (GMRP) multicast registration concurrently are disclosed. IGMP registrations are processed by one or more network routers. The IGMP registrations are passed to one or more switches and processed by the one or more switches as GMRP static registrations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for multicast traffic control protocol pruning in a layer 2 network. A layer 2 device such as a switch with a plurality of ports includes a multicast traffic control protocol pruning algorithm executable from the layer 2 device to control multicast traffic in the layer 2 network. The layer 2 device further includes a multicast traffic control protocol querier selection algorithm executable from the layer 2 device to send multicast traffic control protocol queries to a layer 2 network which includes the layer 2 device. The layer 2 device includes the multicast traffic control protocol querier algorithm as part of its multicast traffic control protocol pruning capabilities. A separate multicast router to generate the multicast traffic control protocol queries can be eliminated from the system, thereby decreasing cost and complexity.