Distributed generation of hierarchical multicast forwarding structures
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- sending, by a first packet replicator of a plurality of packet replicators within a network device to a second packet replicator of the plurality of packet replicators and according to first local forwarding state stored by the first packet replicator for a multicast replication tree for replicating data units of multicast packets among the plurality of packet replicators, a data unit of a multicast packet;
sending, by the first packet replicator to the second packet replicator, a tear-down message directing the second packet replicator to delete local forwarding state for the multicast replication tree; and
deleting, by the second packet replicator in response to receiving the tear-down message, second local forwarding state stored by the second packet replicator for the multicast replication tree.
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Abstract
In general, techniques are described in which packet replicators of a network device cooperate to generate a distributed hierarchical forwarding structure that the packet replicators then use to replicate and forward multicast packets to multiple output interfaces. For example, packet forwarding engines (PFEs) of a router each receive a new list of interfaces for a multicast packet stream. The PFEs individually construct a hierarchical forwarding structure based on the interface list. The hierarchical forwarding structure specifies interrelationships among the PFEs, which occupy nodes within the hierarchy. Each child PFE determines from the hierarchical forwarding structure the identity of a parent PFE and issues a token, constituting forwarding state for the distributed hierarchical forwarding structure, to the parent PFE. The parent PFE uses the token to identify packets of the multicast traffic to the child PFE during replication and forwarding of multicast packets proceeding according to the hierarchical forwarding structure.
24 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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sending, by a first packet replicator of a plurality of packet replicators within a network device to a second packet replicator of the plurality of packet replicators and according to first local forwarding state stored by the first packet replicator for a multicast replication tree for replicating data units of multicast packets among the plurality of packet replicators, a data unit of a multicast packet; sending, by the first packet replicator to the second packet replicator, a tear-down message directing the second packet replicator to delete local forwarding state for the multicast replication tree; and deleting, by the second packet replicator in response to receiving the tear-down message, second local forwarding state stored by the second packet replicator for the multicast replication tree. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A router comprising:
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a plurality of packet replicators, a first packet replicator of the plurality of packet replicators configured to send, to a second packet replicator of the plurality of packet replicators and according to first local forwarding state stored by the first packet replicator for a multicast replication tree for replicating data units of multicast packets among the plurality of packet replicators, a data unit of a multicast packet, wherein the first packet replicator is further configured to send, to the second packet replicator, a tear-down message to direct the second packet replicator to delete local forwarding state for the multicast replication tree, and wherein the second packet replicator is configured to delete, in response to receiving the tear-down message, second local forwarding state stored by the second packet replicator for the multicast replication tree. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for causing respective processing circuitry of a plurality of packet replicators within a network device to:
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send, by a first packet replicator of the plurality of packet replicators to a second packet replicator of the plurality of packet replicators and according to first local forwarding state stored by the first packet replicator for a multicast replication tree for replicating data units of multicast packets among the plurality of packet replicators, a data unit of a multicast packet; send, by the first packet replicator to the second packet replicator, a tear-down message that directs the second packet replicator to delete local forwarding state for the multicast replication tree; and delete, by the second packet replicator in response to receiving the tear-down message, second local forwarding state stored by the second packet replicator for the multicast replication tree. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification