What is true about multicast network transmission?

Multicast network transmission allows a single data stream to be sent from one source to multiple receivers simultaneously. This is highly efficient for applications like streaming audio or video, where the same content is distributed to multiple endpoints without sending separate streams to each one.

The capability of multicast to be managed effectively across a network is significantly enhanced by the use of IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) snooping. This function allows network switches to listen to IGMP communications between hosts and routers. By doing so, the switch can intelligently manage the flow of multicast traffic, forwarding the data only to those ports where there are active listeners, rather than flooding it to all ports. This optimizes bandwidth usage and reduces unnecessary traffic on the network.

In contrast to multicast's selective delivery mechanism, options that mention requirement for each device to have a dedicated cable or imply universal delivery to all devices do not accurately reflect how multicast operates or is utilized in modern networks. Overall, the use of IGMP snooping illustrates a practical application of multicast that emphasizes efficiency and network resource management.