Configuring the PIM Assert Timeout

You configure the assert timeout to determine how often multicast routing devices running PIM sparse mode enter a PIM assert message cycle. Multicast routing devices running PIM sparse mode often forward the same stream of multicast packets onto the same LAN through the rendezvous-point tree (RPT) and shortest-path tree (SPT). PIM assert messages help routers determine which routing device forwards the traffic and prunes the RPT for this group.

Assert messages are useful for LANs that connect multiple routing devices and no hosts. For more information about network configurations using assert timeouts, see SPT Cutover and SPT Cutover Control.

To configure the assert timeout for PIM sparse mode, include the assert-timeout statement:

For a list of the hierarchy levels at which you can include this statement, see the statement summary section for this statement.

The range is from 5 through 210 seconds. The default is 180 seconds.