Systems and methods for efficient multicast handling

Abstract

A network device constructs a notification corresponding to a received multicast data unit, where the notification includes administrative data associated with the multicast data unit that does not include a payload of the multicast data unit. The network device replicates the notification at at least three different processing elements at different locations in a processing path of the network device to produce multiple replicated data items and produces a copy of the multicast data unit for each of replicated notifications. The network device forwards each copy of the multicast data unit towards a multicast destination.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 replicating, by a device, a data item, associated with a packet, to form a plurality of replicated data items,   data, included in the packet, being stored in a memory of the device,   the data item including:
 information identifying a location, in the memory, of the stored data, and data from a header of the packet, 
   the data item being replicated at a plurality of different locations in the device, based on the data from the header, to form the plurality of replicated data items;   retrieving, by the device and using the information identifying the location, the stored data as retrieved data; and   generating, by the device, a plurality of copies of the packet based on the plurality of replicated data items,   each copy, of the plurality of copies, including the retrieved data, and each copy, of the plurality of copies, being forwarded toward a different destination in a network associated with the device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , where the packet is a multicast packet, and
 where the different destinations, in the network associated with the device, are multicast destinations.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving the packet; and   generating the data item after receiving the packet.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 determining a route for the packet based on the header of the packet,   where the data item is replicated at the plurality of different locations based on the route.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , where the packet is a multicast packet, and where the route includes a multicast route. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving the packet; and   fragmenting the packet into cells to obtain a cellified packet,   where the stored data includes the cellified packet, and   where the retrieved data includes the stored data including the cellified packet.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 retrieving encapsulation data, from a second memory, corresponding to the different destination of each copy of the plurality of copies of the packet; and   encapsulating each copy, of the plurality of copies of the packet, using the encapsulation data corresponding to the different destination of the copy, prior to the copy being forwarded to the different destination of the copy.   
     
     
         28 . A system comprising:
 a device to:
 generate a data item associated with a packet, data included in the packet being stored in a memory of the device, 
 the data item including:
 information, included in the packet, associated with routing the packet, and information identifying a location of the data stored in the memory; 
 
 replicate the data item to form a plurality of replicated data items, 
 the data item being replicated at a plurality of different locations in the device, based on the information associated with routing the packet, to form the plurality of replicated data items; 
 retrieve, using the information identifying the location of the data, the data stored in the memory as retrieved data; and 
 generate a plurality of copies of the packet based on the plurality of replicated data items, 
 each copy, of the plurality of copies, including the retrieved data, and 
 each copy, of the plurality of copies, being forwarded toward a different destination in a network. 
   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , where the information associated with routing the packet is included in a header of the packet. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , where the device is further to:
 determine a route for the packet based on the header of the packet,   where the data item is replicated at the plurality of different locations based on the route.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , where the packet is a multicast packet, and where the route includes a multicast route. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 28 , where the packet is a multicast packet, and where the different destinations, in the network, are multicast destinations. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , where the device is further to:
 retrieve, from a second memory and based on the data item, a list that includes information associated with the multicast destinations,   where the data item is replicated, at the plurality of different locations in the device, based on the list.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 28 , where the device is further to:
 fragment the packet into cells,   where the retrieved data includes the cells.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 28 , where the device is further to:
 retrieve encapsulation data, from a second memory, corresponding to the different destination of each copy of the plurality of copies of the packet; and   encapsulate each copy, of the plurality of copies of the packet, using the encapsulation data corresponding to the copy, prior to the copy being forwarded to the different destination of the copy.   
     
     
         36 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
 one or more instructions which, when executed by a device, cause the device to replicate a data item, associated with a packet, to form a plurality of replicated data items,   data, included in the packet, being stored in a memory of the device,   the data item including:
 information identifying a location, in the memory, of the stored data, and 
 data from a header of the packet, 
   the data item being replicated at a plurality of different locations in the device, based on the data from the header, to form the plurality of replicated data items;   one or more instructions which, when executed by the device, cause the device to retrieve, using the information identifying the location, the stored data as retrieved data; and   one or more instructions which, when executed by the device, cause the device to generate a plurality of copies of the packet based on the plurality of replicated data items,   each copy, of the plurality of copies, including the retrieved data, and   each copy, of the plurality of copies, being forwarded toward a respective destination in a network associated with the device.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 one or more instructions to determine a route for the packet based on a header of the packet,   where the data item is replicated at the plurality of respective locations based on the route.   
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , where the packet is a multicast packet,
 where the route includes a multicast route, and   where the respective destinations, in the network associated with the device, are multicast destinations.   
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 one or more instructions to retrieve, from a second memory and based on the data item, a list that includes information associated with the multicast destinations,   where the data item is replicated, at the plurality of different locations in the device, based on the list.   
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 one or more instructions to fragment the packet into cells to obtain a cellified packet,   where the retrieved data includes the stored data including the cellified packet;   one or more instructions to retrieve encapsulation data, from a second memory, corresponding to the respective destination of each copy of the plurality of copies of the packet; and   one or more instructions to encapsulate each copy, of the plurality of copies of the packet, using the encapsulation data corresponding to the respective destination of the copy, prior to the copy being forwarded toward the respective destination of the copy.