Patent ID: 10158558

Abstract:
In one embodiment, packets are forwarded in a network according to a Segment Routing-based (SR-based) multicast distribution tree identified by a Tree Segment Identifier (Tree-SID). This packet forwarding includes packet replication to cause multiple copies of a same packet to be forwarded to different nodes of the SR-based multicast distribution tree. The Tree-SID is typically a same global value used within the network to identify the SR-based multicast distribution tree. As each packet is being routed through the network according to the SR-based multicast distribution tree, the packet includes the Tree-SID in a Segment List of the packet, with the Segment List being an ordered list of SID's identifying information for forwarding the packet in the network. The Tree-SID provides a lookup key for efficient forwarding of packets by packet switching devices making forwarding decisions, which may including forwarding multiple copies of the packet.