Leaves

A node acting as an MLD host can be disconnected from a multicast address in two ways:
  • It can stop sending join requests to the querier.This may happen if the multicast application quits or the node is removed from the network. If the switch goes for slightly more than two query intervals without seeing a join request from the MLD host, it stops sending multicast traffic for that multicast address to the MLD host's port.

  • It can issue a "leave" request.This is done by the application software running on the MLD host. If the MLD host is the only node connected to its switch port, the switch sees the leave request and stops sending multicast packets for that multicast address to that port. (If there is more than one node connected to the port the situation is more complicated, as explained under Fast leaves and forced fast leaves.)