What is the multicast IP range reserved for local networks?

The multicast IP range reserved for local networks is indeed from 239.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255, which falls under the larger block of 239.0.0.0 /8. This range is specifically designated for Administratively Scoped Multicast, meaning that it can be utilized for multicast routing within a local scope rather than across the public internet. This allows network administrators to manage traffic effectively within their local networks while avoiding conflicts or interference with global multicast traffic.

Using the 239.x.x.x range ensures that the multicast packets remain within the defined administrative boundaries of the organization, providing an efficient way to distribute information to multiple recipients on a local network without consuming unnecessary bandwidth or causing routing issues on a larger scale. This makes it particularly valuable for applications like video conferencing, online gaming, and large system updates where multiple users require access to the same data stream.

The other options represent different multicast IP ranges but do not specifically cater to local network scopes in the same way. For example, the range 224.0.0.0 /8 is reserved for globally scoped multicast addresses, primarily used by network protocols and services, while 225.1.1.0 /24 and 233.0.