# Unicast-Multicast Reflector

This is not an xAAL component.

This is a workaround for defective network infrastructures that does not
properly handle multicast traffic.  E.g.  poor quality WiFi AP or PowerLine
Adapters.
See: https://tools.ietf.org/id/draft-ietf-mboned-ieee802-mcast-problems-09.txt

This daemon forwards message from a multicast channel (e.g. the xAAL bus)
towards connected UDP unicast clients, and vice-versa.

This is the same approach as solutions developed in the middle of 90's for the
MBone project.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/2855653_Multicast-Unicast_Reflector
Note however that our reflector does not intent to manage RTP RTSP RTCP
protocols. It works at the UDP layer.


## Usage
Do not use it! ...if possible...

Well, if you are facing a poor quality WiFi AP which lost many multicast
packets, you can use it as follow.

First, put as many as possible xAAL devices on the wired side of your AP.
On plain old Ethernet wires, multicast works well.
Put also the reflector on the wired side. All those component can
communicate via the xAAL multicast bus, as usual.

Then, for xAAL devices that have to go on the wireless side of your AP,
select the unicast IP of the reflector instead of the multicast IP of the
xAAL bus. This increase delays and bandwidth consumption, but this works.


## Conclusion
This workaround works, but should be avoided as much as possible. 
As an alternative, select a better quality WiFi AP, or use Ethernet.