A method for enabling multicast forwarding relates to the field of IP communication technologies. The method for enabling multicast forwarding implements flexible networking and enables proper function of the multicast proxy. A switch device receives a multicast protocol message; the switch device determines a sender of the multicast protocol message according to a port from which the multicast protocol message is received; the switch device transmits the multicast protocol message transparently if the sender of the multicast protocol message is a routing device or a switching device, and the switch device terminates the multicast protocol message according to a multicast proxy function if the sender of the multicast protocol message is a host of a multicast user.