Patent ID: 9100323
Filing Date: 2015-08-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: generating, by a network device, a multi-level replication data structure having a plurality of hierarchically-arranged nodes each associated with one of a plurality of packet replicators of the network device and each occupying one of a plurality of levels of the multi-level replication data structure, wherein each of the plurality of packet replicators of the network device comprises a plurality of packet buffer partitions for storing multicast packets; by a packet replicator of the plurality of packet replicators that is associated with a node of the plurality of hierarchically-arranged nodes that occupies a level of the plurality of levels of the multi-level replication data structure, receiving a multicast packet; and by the packet replicator, determining a packet buffer partition of the plurality of packet buffer partitions of the packet replicator that is associated with the level of the plurality of levels of the multi-level replication data structure and storing the multicast packet to the packet buffer partition prior to internally forwarding the multicast packet to a receiving packet replicator of the plurality of packet replicators in accordance with the multi-level replication data structure.