Data structure-less distributed fabric multicast
First Claim
1. A method implemented by a network device, the method comprising:
- receiving, by an ingress packet forwarding engine of the network device, a packet with a multicast nexthop identifier;
creating, by the ingress packet forwarding engine, a mask that includes addresses of egress packet forwarding engines to which to provide the packet;
dividing, by the ingress packet forwarding engine, the mask into two portions;
generating, by the ingress packet forwarding engine, two copies of the packet;
providing, by the ingress packet forwarding engine, a first portion of the mask in a first copy of the packet; and
forwarding, by the ingress packet forwarding engine, the first copy of the packet to an address of an egress packet forwarding engine provided in the first portion of the mask.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network device receives a packet with a multicast nexthop identifier, and creates a mask that includes addresses of egress packet forwarding engines, of the network device, to which to provide the packet. The network device divides the mask into two portions, generates two copies of the packet, provides a first portion of the mask in a first copy of the packet, and provides a second portion of the mask in a second copy of the packet. The network device also forwards the first copy of the packet to an address of a first egress packet forwarding engine provided in the first portion of the mask, and forwards the second copy of the packet to an address of a second egress packet forwarding engine provided in the second portion of the mask.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method implemented by a network device, the method comprising:
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receiving, by an ingress packet forwarding engine of the network device, a packet with a multicast nexthop identifier; creating, by the ingress packet forwarding engine, a mask that includes addresses of egress packet forwarding engines to which to provide the packet; dividing, by the ingress packet forwarding engine, the mask into two portions; generating, by the ingress packet forwarding engine, two copies of the packet; providing, by the ingress packet forwarding engine, a first portion of the mask in a first copy of the packet; and forwarding, by the ingress packet forwarding engine, the first copy of the packet to an address of an egress packet forwarding engine provided in the first portion of the mask. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method implemented by a network device, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a packet forwarding engine of the network device, a packet with a mask that includes addresses of other packet forwarding engines to which to provide the packet; determining, by the packet forwarding engine, that the mask is divisible; dividing, by the packet forwarding engine, the mask into two portions; generating, by the packet forwarding engine, two copies of the packet; providing, by the packet forwarding engine, a first portion of the mask in a first copy of the packet; and forwarding, by the packet forwarding engine, the first copy of the packet to an address of one of the other packet forwarding engines provided in the first portion of the mask. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A network device, comprising:
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a memory to store a plurality of instructions; and a processor to execute instructions in the memory to; receive a packet with a multicast nexthop identifier, create a mask that includes addresses of egress packet forwarding engines, of the network device, to which to provide the packet, divide the mask into two portions, generate two copies of the packet, provide a first portion of the mask in a first copy of the packet, provide a second portion of the mask in a second copy of the packet, forward the first copy of the packet to an address of a first egress packet forwarding engine provided in the first portion of the mask, and forward the second copy of the packet to an address of a second egress packet forwarding engine provided in the second portion of the mask. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A network device, comprising:
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a memory to store a plurality of instructions; and a processor to execute instructions in the memory to; receive a packet with a mask that includes addresses of packet forwarding engines to which to provide the packet, determine that the mask is divisible, divide the mask into two portions, generate two copies of the packet, provide a first portion of the mask in a first copy of the packet, provide a second portion of the mask in a second copy of the packet, forward the first copy of the packet to an address of one of the packet forwarding engines provided in the first portion of the mask, and forward the second copy of the packet to an address of another one of the packet forwarding engines provided in the second portion of the mask. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification