Ingress switch multicast distribution in a fabric switch

摘要

One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes an inter-switch multicast module and an edge multicast module. The inter-switch multicast module identifies for a first replication of a multicast packet an egress inter-switch port in a multicast tree rooted at the switch. The multicast tree is identified by an identifier of the switch. The edge multicast module identifies an egress edge port for a second replication of the multicast packet based on a multicast group identifier. The multicast group identifier is local within the switch.

主权项

1. A switch, comprising:
an inter-switch multicast module configured to identify, for a first copy of a multicast packet belonging to a multicast group, an egress inter-switch port in a multicast tree rooted at the switch, wherein the multicast tree is identified in a network of interconnected switches by a switch identifier of the switch; and an edge multicast module configured to identify an egress edge port for a second copy of the multicast packet based on a multicast replication identifier of the switch, wherein the multicast replication identifier is distinct from an identifier of the multicast group and local within the switch, and wherein the multicast replication identifier is not included in a packet.