A method comprising: receiving, by a network device in a deterministic data network comprising deterministic segments, a data packet comprising a packet header having a bit index, each bit in the bit index associated with a corresponding one of the deterministic segments; the network device identifying, from the bit index, a first bit for a corresponding first deterministic segment and a second bit for a corresponding second deterministic segment, wherein the network device is an endpoint for transmitting deterministic traffic into each of the first and second deterministic segments; the network device selectively executing a replication operation of the data packet for transmission of a replicated data packet into each of the first and second deterministic segments, based on the network device detecting the corresponding first and second bits set for replication; wherein the selectively executing comprises clearing each of the first and second bits from each replicated data packet prior to transmission into each of the first and second deterministic segments, ensuring a peer network device in any one of the first or second deterministic segments does not transmit the replicated data packet back into any one of the first or second deterministic segments, and further comprising: the network device storing, in a memory circuit, the bit index including the first bit cleared as a first modified bit index for the first deterministic segment; the network device storing, in the memory circuit, the bit index including the second bit cleared as a second modified bit index for the second deterministic segment. receiving, by a network device in a deterministic data network comprising deterministic segments, a data packet comprising a packet header having a bit index, each bit in the bit index associated with a corresponding one of the deterministic segments; the network device identifying, from the bit index, a first bit for a corresponding first deterministic segment and a second bit for a corresponding second deterministic segment, wherein the network device is an endpoint for transmitting deterministic traffic into each of the first and second deterministic segments; the network device selectively executing a replication operation of the data packet for transmission of a replicated data packet into each of the first and second deterministic segments, based on the network device detecting the corresponding first and second bits set for replication; wherein the selectively executing comprises clearing each of the first and second bits from each replicated data packet prior to transmission into each of the first and second deterministic segments, ensuring a peer network device in any one of the first or second deterministic segments does not transmit the replicated data packet back into any one of the first or second deterministic segments, and further comprising: the network device storing, in a memory circuit, the bit index including the first bit cleared as a first modified bit index for the first deterministic segment; the network device storing, in the memory circuit, the bit index including the second bit cleared as a second modified bit index for the second deterministic segment. the network device storing, in a memory circuit, the bit index including the first bit cleared as a first modified bit index for the first deterministic segment; the network device storing, in the memory circuit, the bit index including the second bit cleared as a second modified bit index for the second deterministic segment.