Which statement about multicast protocols is false?

Multicast protocols are designed to efficiently route data to multiple destinations without sending copies of the data to each one individually. In this context, let's analyze the statements, focusing on why the selected answer is considered false.

The statement indicating that EM (which likely refers to Efficient Multicast or a similar protocol) can only operate in sparse mode is not accurate. Multicast protocols often support multiple modes of operation, including both sparse and dense modes. Sparse mode is used in scenarios where multicast group members are widely dispersed, while dense mode is suitable for situations where many receivers are located close to the source. Therefore, stating that EM can only operate in sparse mode is misleading because it suggests a limitation that does not exist across all multicast protocols, which commonly allow for flexibility in operational modes.

The other statements stand accurate within the context of multicast protocols. IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) indeed plays a crucial role in maintaining group membership information between hosts and routers, assisting in determining which hosts are part of a multicast group. DVMRP (Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol) does impose a hop count limit of 32 to prevent loops and excessive resource consumption. Moreover, MSDP (Multicast Source Discovery Protocol) facilitates the sharing of multicast routing information across Autonomous Systems