Abstract: A networked database management system (DBMS) is disclosed. In particular, the disclosed DBMS includes a plurality of nodes, one of which is elected as a designated leader. The designated leader is elected using a consensus algorithm, such as tabulated random votes, RAFT or PAXOS. The designated leader is responsible for managing open coding lines, and determining when to close an open coding line.

Abstract: A first network device may generate a layer-3 virtual private network (L3VPN) route advertisement associated with the first network device. The L3VPN route advertisement may include a first portion, associated with a second network device included in an L3VPN with the first network device, for separate transport-layer tunnel and service-layer tunneling, and a second portion, associated with the second network device, for collapsed transport-layer and service-layer tunneling. The first network device may transmit the L3VPN route advertisement.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method and an apparatus for controlling a network traffic path. The method includes: receiving routing advertisement information from a first network to a second network; determining all routing nodes included in a path through which data pass when flowing from the second network to the first network according to the routing advertisement information; and configuring a next hop routing node for each determined routing node, where the next hop routing node is a node in all the routing nodes included in the path and is adjacent to the routing node for which the next hop routing node is configured, and the routing node for which the next hop routing node is configured does not include a routing node of the first network or a routing node of the second network.

Abstract: A system designed for increasing network communication speed for users, while lowering network congestion for content owners and ISPs. The system employs network elements including an acceleration server, clients, agents, and peers, where communication requests generated by applications are intercepted by the client on the same machine. The IP address of the server in the communication request is transmitted to the acceleration server, which provides a list of agents to use for this IP address. The communication request is sent to the agents. One or more of the agents respond with a list of peers that have previously seen some or all of the content which is the response to this request (after checking whether this data is still valid).

Abstract: The invention relates to a node for communication between a first network and an second network and coupled to a controller in the second network via a first communication route. The node and controller form a virtualised home gateway platform. The node is arranged to access a second communication route and also to couple to the controller via the second communication route upon connection failure of the first communication route. This reconnects the node to the controller thereby maintaining a route for transmission of data streams and downloads into the home environment but also re-establishes control signalling within the virtualised home gateway platform and therefore also within the home network. A system for performing gateway functions between a first network and an second network, and a method of maintaining connection between a node and a controller, are also described.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for obscured routing. A computing device may send stacks of identifiers to neighbor computing devices in a network. Each stack of identifiers may include a unique identifier for the neighbor computing device to which it is sent. The computing device may send a notification identifying a destination computing device to the neighbor computing devices. The computing device may receive stacks of identifiers from the neighbor computing devices. The received stacks of identifiers may include completed routes to the destination computing device. Each completed route may be specified by unique identifiers added to the stack of identifiers by computing devices in the network. A unique identifier in each stack of identifiers may not be resolvable to an address by the computing device. The computing device may send a message a neighbor computing device based on a unique identifier in a chosen stack of identifiers.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and a system for migrating a virtual file server. In an example of a method, a virtual file server is migrated from a first storage to a second storage, wherein the virtual file server comprises a server layer and a data layer. Identity information is retrieved from the server layer from the server layer for the second storage. The identity information is updated so instantiation of the virtual file server on the second storage appears the same as on the first storage.

Abstract: A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for addressing a problem in a network using social media are disclosed. For example, the method receives social media data, analyzes the social media data to detect a trend for a service provided by the communication network, wherein the trend indicates a problem with the service, correlates an operational parameter of the communication network providing the service to the problem with the service and adjusts the operational parameter of the communication network to address the problem.

Abstract: A computer system transforms data. A first user builds a flow diagram. Each node in the flow diagram specifies an operation: to retrieve data, to transform data, or to create an output dataset. The flow diagram includes a subgraph having a plurality of nodes. When the first user initiates execution, the system performs the operations in the subgraph sequentially as specified. When the first user requests the system to save the flow diagram, the system stores the subgraph. The system displays a user interface and the subgraph in the user interface. A second user requests the system to build another flow diagram based on the subgraph. In response, the system retrieves the subgraph from memory. When the second user requests the system to execute the flow diagram built by the second user, the system performs the operations of the nodes in the subgraph sequentially as specified in the subgraph.

Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate, among other things, to a first computing device including a server optimization module communicatively coupled to a server application. The server optimization module may receive, from a second computing device, a resource request identifying a resource, and send to the second computing device a packet list identifying a set of packets associated with the resource, where each packet describes differences between different versions of the resource. The server optimization module may also receive from the second computing device a set of packet requests, each packet request identifying a packet from the set of packets, and for each packet in the set of packets, send the packet to the second computing device based on a determination that the packet has been updated since the packet has been last sent to the second computing device.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for generating a playlist. An application programming interface (API) receives a request to generate a playlist, where the request includes a set of rule-primitives. A playlist engine evaluator evaluates a rule corresponding to each rule-primitive in the set of rule-primitives across a catalog of media content, calculates a cost associated with each item in the catalog of media content, and generates a playlist based on the items of the catalog having the lowest costs.

Abstract: Techniques for zero-loss workload mobility with segment routing for virtual machines are presented. The techniques include receiving, by a virtual router, an electronic message destined for a first virtual machine running on a first physical machine and checking a first virtual machine state for the first virtual machine. In response to determining that it is associated with a running state indicating the first physical machine, inserting a segment routing header including an indication of the source virtual machine, the first physical machine, and the first virtual machine. In response to determining that it is associated with a migration state, inserting, by the virtual router, a segment routing header indicating the source virtual machine, an END.S for the first physical machine, the first virtual machine; and an END.SBUF for a second physical machine. The message is then routed based at least in part on the inserted segment routing header.

Abstract: A method includes generating, by a processor, an index data structure including allocation of nodes that each represent a computing element of multiple computing elements. In response to determining a change in status of any of the nodes, the method propagates changes in status of any computing element between associated node levels of the index data structure using an application programming interface (API). An updated status of one or more of the nodes is provided based on the change in status.

Abstract: An efficient, flexible P2P file transmission management technology for limiting and directing of P2P file transmission mainly by replacing an original tracker server with a setting controllable tracker server, and modifying node list based on predetermined rule in the controllable tracker server. With the present invention, a network operator can strengthen function of the controllable tracker server in P2P communication gradually by weakening function of the original tracker server in P2P communication gradually, and utilize various rules or policies established in advance to manage file transfer of P2P nodes.

Abstract: A peer enrollment method, a route updating method, a communication system, and relevant devices to improve security of a peer-to-peer (P2P) network are provided. The peer enrollment method includes: receiving an enrollment request from a peer, where the enrollment request carries identity information of the peer; verifying the identity information of the peer, and if the verification succeeds, obtaining peer location information of the peer and generating a peer credential according to the peer location information; and sending the peer credential carrying the peer location information to the peer so that the peer joins the P2P network according to the peer credential. Embodiments of the present application further provide a route updating method, a communication system, and relevant devices. Embodiments of the present application may improve security of the P2P network effectively.

Abstract: A connectivity state mapping system for mapping physical connections between interfaces of devices in a network is provided. The system includes at least one processor, at least one memory, and an application including instructions, which are executable by the at least one processor. The instructions are configured to: group the interfaces into groups; select one of the groups based on a predetermined fault plan; determine utilization parameters; based on the utilization parameters, cause at least one fault in one or more of the interfaces in the selected group; monitor events corresponding to the at least one fault and log data indicative of errors detected at the interfaces of the selected one of the groups; and based on the at least one fault and the predetermined fault plan, correlate the data to identify physical connections between two or more of the devices in the network.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to systems and methods for improving multicast traffic flows in a computer network. In some aspects, a method of the technology includes steps for receiving multicast traffic statistics from each of a plurality of switches in a computer network, aggregating the multicast traffic statistics into a time-series database, and identifying a low-performing multicast flow based on the time-series database. In some aspects, the method can include steps for automatically reconfiguring the computer network to improve the low-performing multicast flow. Systems and machine readable media are also provided.

Abstract: An on-board network system includes: communication lines; a plurality of nodes, each of the nodes being directly and physically connected to at least one of the other nodes by the communication lines, the nodes including loop nodes physically connected to a loop by the communication lines, the nodes constituting a first logical network in which the nodes are connected with each other via one route through the communication lines; a communication disruption detecting unit configured to detect disruption of communications via the communication lines; a network reconstruction unit configured to reconstruct a second logical network when the disruption of communications is detected by the communication disruption detecting unit, the second logical network not including a communication line that causes the disruption; and a delivery unit configured to deliver the information of the second logical network to the nodes.

Abstract: A web server and a shared caching server are described for serving dynamic content to users of at least two different types, where the different types of users receive different versions of the dynamic content. A version of the dynamic content includes a validation header, such as an ETag, that stores information indicative of the currency of the dynamic content and information indicative of a user type for which the version of the dynamic content is intended. In response to a user request for the dynamic content, the shared caching server sends a validation request to the web server with the validation header information. The web server determines, based on the user type of the requestor and/or on the currency of the cached dynamic content whether to instruct the shared caching server to send the cached content or to send updated content for serving to the user.

Abstract: Techniques that facilitate re-hosting a subset of a serverless application are provided. In one example, a system includes an interface component, a rewriter component and a broker component. The interface component receives identifier data from a computing device that identifies a portion of a serverless application to be re-hosted by the computing device. The computing device is in communication with the serverless computing system via a network device. The rewriter component rewrites the serverless application to allow the first portion of the serverless application to be executed by the computing device and another portion of the serverless application to be executed by the serverless computing system. The interface component re-routes the first portion of the serverless application to the computing device to facilitate a debugging session for the first portion of the serverless application that is performed by the computing device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for grouping communications between mobile communication devices. The method includes receiving, at a mobile communication device, one or more facility identifiers, each of the one or more facility identifiers associated with a facility. The method further includes storing the one or more facility identifiers in a memory; decoding, via an electronic processor, a group call having an initiation identifier; and comparing, via the electronic processor, the initiation identifier to the one or more facility identifiers. The method further includes joining, via the electronic processor, the group call based on the comparison between the initiation identifier and the one or more facility identifiers. The method may further include leaving, via the electronic processor, the group call.

Abstract: Disclosed aspects relate to cache management in a stream computing environment that uses a set of many-core hardware processors to process a stream of tuples by a plurality of processing elements which operate on the set of many-core hardware processors. The stream of tuples to be processed by the plurality of processing elements which operate on the set of many-core hardware processors may be received. A tuple-processing hardware-route on the set of many-core hardware processors may be determined based on a cache factor associated with the set of many-core hardware processors. The stream of tuples may be routed based on the tuple-processing hardware-route on the set of many-core hardware processors. The stream of tuples may be processed by the plurality of processing elements which operate on the set of many-core hardware processors.

Abstract: A forwarding database cache system is described herein. The forwarding database cache system includes a main forwarding database and one or more forwarding database caches. When a packet is received, the cache is searched first for information such as address information, and if found, then the packet is forwarded to the appropriate destination. If the address information is not found in the cache, then the main forwarding database is searched, and the packet is forwarded to the appropriate destination based on the information in the main forwarding database.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include (1) receiving, at a network device, a route update for one or more routes that direct traffic within a network that supports BGP, (2) identifying, within the route update, a BGP prefix and a plurality of protocol next-hop addresses that (A) identify a plurality of neighbors of the network device and (B) each correspond to the BGP prefix, (3) maintaining a single copy of the BGP prefix and each of the protocol next-hop addresses, (4) receiving a packet destined for a computing device that is reachable via at least one of the neighbors of the network device, and then (5) forwarding the packet to the one of the neighbors of the network device in accordance with the BGP prefix and the protocol next-hop address that identifies the one of the neighbors. Various other methods, systems, and apparatuses are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for hot swapping and hot scaling containers between cloud services are disclosed. In one example, a method includes storing, with a cloud exchange, data indicating an association of a first container of a first private network with a second container of a second private network, wherein the first private network and the second private network are coupled to the cloud exchange to send and receive data packets via the cloud exchange. The method further includes sending, with the cloud exchange based on the association, state of the first container to the second container.

Abstract: A generic state machine concept can be used to decouple specific state machine functionality from any specific consensus protocol. A generic state machine can prepare a local log record and generate a local log index in response to a data update received at a computing node of a plurality of computing nodes in a distributed data storage application. The generic state machine can pass replication information to one or more other computing nodes in the plurality of computing nodes in accordance with the consensus protocol and can mutate a state of the generic state machine upon the plurality of computing nodes achieving a quorum.

Abstract: There is described a method of managing routing paths, in particular multicast routing paths, in a content delivery network. The method includes determining, according to a unicast routing protocol, a first link cost for a first routing path and determining a second link cost for a second routing path, the second routing path comprising a first component comprising a link cost to a router that is part of a multicast group and a second component comprising a link cost for the multicast tree from the router. An adjustment factor is then determined based on information received from the content delivery network. The adjustment factor is applied to the second link cost. The adjusted second link cost and the first link cost are analyzed to determine an adjusted least cost path in the content delivery network and the adjusted second link cost is selectively output to a routing database to influence routing in the content delivery network.

Abstract: Modular network switches and other computer systems are described herein. A modular network switch can include a latching device for installing and removing computer modules (e.g., line cards) from an associated cabinet or enclosure. The network switch can also include interconnected computer modules (e.g., line cards, fabric cards, control modules, etc.) that include circuit boards oriented parallel to the flow of cooling air through the cabinet in the absence of a backplane or midplane oriented perpendicular to the air flow. The absence of such backplanes and/or midplanes provides a more direct air flow path through the cabinet, thereby enabling a more efficient flow of cooling air and lower operating temperatures. Additionally, the network switch can include an orthogonal arrangement of data planes, control planes, and/or power planes that can be efficiently interconnected to increase operational speed and further facilitate the flow of cooling air through the computer cabinet.

Abstract: Techniques that facilitate re-hosting a subset of a serverless application are provided. In one example, a system includes an interface component, a rewriter component and a broker component. The interface component receives identifier data from a computing device that identifies a portion of a serverless application to be re-hosted by the computing device. The computing device is in communication with the serverless computing system via a network device. The rewriter component rewrites the serverless application to allow the first portion of the serverless application to be executed by the computing device and another portion of the serverless application to be executed by the serverless computing system. The interface component re-routes the first portion of the serverless application to the computing device to facilitate a debugging session for the first portion of the serverless application that is performed by the computing device.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus may include a processing unit may manage memory in connection with a computing device by (1) searching a root index of a root node for a bit indicating that a specific lookup index within the root node corresponds to a leaf node that references an unallocated memory location, (2) identifying, within the specific lookup index, a bit indicating that a specific leaf node references the unallocated memory location, (3) searching a leaf index of the specific leaf node for a bit indicating that a specific object within the leaf node corresponds to the unallocated memory location, (4) identifying, within the specific object, a bit that corresponds to a specific memory location and indicates that the specific memory location is currently unallocated, and then (5) allocating the specific memory location for use by the computing device. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for orbital satellite platform. In one example, a satellite system includes satellite devices in low-earth orbit (LEO) configured to establish a pseudo-geosynchronous configuration corresponding to a ground communication system by at least transferring instructions for traffic routing from outgoing satellite devices leaving the pseudo-geosynchronous window for receipt by target satellite devices entering the pseudo-geosynchronous window. During passage within the pseudo-geosynchronous window, the target satellite devices are each configured to route communications received in the target satellite devices from ones of the satellite devices through the ground communication system in accordance with the instructions for traffic routing.

Abstract: Disclosed aspects relate to cache management in a stream computing environment that uses a set of many-core hardware processors to process a stream of tuples by a plurality of processing elements which operate on the set of many-core hardware processors. The stream of tuples to be processed by the plurality of processing elements which operate on the set of many-core hardware processors may be received. A tuple-processing hardware-route on the set of many-core hardware processors may be determined based on a cache factor associated with the set of many-core hardware processors. The stream of tuples may be routed based on the tuple-processing hardware-route on the set of many-core hardware processors. The stream of tuples may be processed by the plurality of processing elements which operate on the set of many-core hardware processors.

Abstract: A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for addressing a problem in a network using social media are disclosed. For example, the method receives social media data, analyzes the social media data to detect a trend for a service provided by the communication network, wherein the trend indicates a problem with the service, correlates an operational parameter of the communication network providing the service to the problem with the service and adjusts the operational parameter of the communication network to address the problem.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a system which facilitates exchanging identifying information between connected nodes. During operation, the system generates, by an intermediate node for an adjacent node, an interest which includes an identifier for the intermediate node and a name for a link between the intermediate node and the adjacent node. In response to the interest, the system receives from the adjacent node a content object which includes an identifier for the adjacent node. The system creates an entry in a first data structure mapping the adjacent node's identifier to a first outgoing interface associated with the link. In response to receiving a first routing update for a first name prefix based on the adjacent node's identifier, the system updates a first forwarding information base based on the adjacent node's identifier, thereby facilitating the exchange of the identifying information between the connected nodes without requiring an external agent.

Abstract: An automated computer implemented method and system for connecting a user with another user comprises: receiving a request from a first user mobile device to connect with a second user mobile device for a communication event, wherein the request comprises a category, time estimate, subject matter of the request and a first user availability; identifying a recipient identifier corresponding to the second user mobile device; notifying the second user of the request for communication from the first user via a user interface on the second user mobile device; determining a second user availability for the second user mobile device; electronically communicating a connection opportunity for the first user and the second user; and connecting the first user and the second user to engage in the communication event based on the substantially matched availability in a manner that avoids phone tagging.

Abstract: Embodiments for a method of providing dynamic load balancing and fail-over in a WAN network. The interface group architecture for WAN is applied to both sides of the source-destination connection to redirect the data movement of read/write operations away from a public network to a private network. The process identifies interface group selection criteria to be invoked on both source and destination servers to select a tenant-specific private network interface for multi-tenant servers. The method provides high availability communication to select the interface for reads/writes as well as load balancing across the interfaces of each interface group, and a failover interface for recovery from interfaces of the interface group.

Abstract: Interworking between a policy decision device and an address translation device is provided. An operation method of the policy decision device in a mobile communication system includes, if receiving address translation information about a user equipment, determining translated address information about the user equipment using the address translation information, if receiving a service information request for the user equipment, distinguishing the user equipment using address information included in the service information request and the translated address information, and sending a response to the service information request.

Abstract: An object-forwarding device can block a malicious Content Object from being inserted into an Interest's reverse path over a named data network. During operation, the device can receive a Content Object via a first interface, and can perform a lookup operation in a Pending Interest Table (PIT) to identify a PIT entry for an Interest associated with the Content Object. The device then determines, from the PIT entry, an egress interface used to forward the Interest. If the device determines that the egress interface of the PIT entry matches the first interface for the Content Object, the device forwards the Content Object via a return interface specified in the PIT entry. On the other hand, if the egress interface of the PIT entry does not match the first interface for the Content Object, the device can block the Content Object.

Abstract: A method for privacy-enhanced evidence evaluation may comprise: sending a request for pre-evaluation information regarding evidence data of a target object to a first network entity from a requesting node; obtaining the pre-evaluation information from the first network entity, in response to successful verification of the requesting node at a second network entity; and calculating an evidence evaluation of the target object based at least in part on the pre-evaluation information, wherein the pre-evaluation information comprises re-encrypted evidence data of the target object associated with one or more time slots, and wherein the re-encrypted evidence data of the target object at an associated time slot is resulted at least in part from encrypted evidence data of the target object collected by the first network entity from one or more evidence providers at the associated time slot, by using a re-encryption key from the second network entity.

Abstract: Methods and systems for protecting a secured network are presented. For example, one or more packet security gateways may be associated with a security policy management server. At each packet security gateway, a dynamic security policy may be received from the security policy management server, packets associated with a network protected by the packet security gateway may be received, and at least one of multiple packet transformation functions specified by the dynamic security policy may be performed on the packets.

Abstract: A method for applying network services to data traffic forwarded between virtual private network (VPN) sites includes: receiving a data packet addressed to a target site associated with the VPN, determining services to be applied to the data packet according to a service chain, where the determining is a function of at least one of the VPN, the origin site or the target site, adding an indication of a VPN forwarding context onto the data packet, encapsulating the data packet with Network Service Header encapsulation, where a header for the encapsulated data packet indicates at least the service chain; forwarding the encapsulated data packet in accordance with the service chain, receiving the encapsulated data packet at the end of the service chain, terminating the service chain, removing the encapsulation, and forwarding the data packet to a target destination per the indication of a VPN forwarding context.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards upgrading hypervisors operating in hardware clusters that may be hosting one or more virtual clusters of virtual traffic managers. Virtual clusters may be arranged to span multiple computing devices in the hardware cluster. Spanning the virtual clusters across multiple hardware nodes the virtual cluster may enable the virtual clusters to remain operative while one or more hardware nodes may be upgraded. Hypervisor may include a management control plane for virtual clusters of virtual traffic managers. Hypervisors running on hardware nodes may manage the lower level networking traffic topology while the virtual traffic managers may manage the higher level network processing.

Abstract: A method of packet handling in an information centric networking (ICN) network may be provided. A method may include receiving an interest packet at a network device, the interest packet comprising a name including one or more entries. The method may also include determining whether the name of the interest packet includes a specific symbol. Further, the method may include upon determining that the name of the interest packet includes the specific symbol, performing at least one action based on a final entry of the one or more entries.

Abstract: An apparatus is capable of hosting a secure module, which secure module includes at least one secure module application. The apparatus is configured to provide connectivity to the secure module. A processing module is configured to obtain from the secure module information concerning the at least one secure module application. The processing module is, based on the obtained information, configured to check whether a compatible counterpart application is present in the apparatus. A communication module is configured to obtain the compatible counterpart application from an outside source in case no compatible counterpart application is present in the apparatus.

Abstract: A call routing platform system can be used to facilitate routing of a call to a mobile device and a real-time communication API enable device simultaneously. A mobile device number associated with a mobile device can be registered with a call routing service to facilitate call forking between the mobile device and the real-time communication API enabled device. The call routing platform system can comprise an IP multimedia system to facilitate the call forking.

Abstract: In one embodiment, edge devices can be configured to be coupled to a multi-stage switch fabric and peripheral processing devices. The edge devices and the multi-stage switch fabric can collectively define a single logical entity. A first edge device from the edge devices can be configured to be coupled to a first peripheral processing device from the peripheral processing devices. The second edge device from the edge devices can be configured to be coupled to a second peripheral processing device from the peripheral processing devices. The first edge device can be configured such that virtual resources including a first virtual resource can be defined at the first peripheral processing device. A network management module coupled to the edge devices and configured to provision the virtual resources such that the first virtual resource can be migrated from the first peripheral processing device to the second peripheral processing device.

Abstract: A novel design of a gateway that handles traffic in and out of a network by using a datapath daemon is provided. The datapath daemon is a run-to-completion process that performs various data-plane packet-processing operations at the edge of the network. The datapath daemon dispatches packets to other processes or processing threads outside of the daemon. Datapath operations at lower layers of the network protocol model are processed by the datapath daemon within its run-to-completion thread, while datapath operations at higher layers of the network protocol model are processed by data plane processes external to the datapath daemon.

Abstract: A method of providing topology information about a network to a topology manager is disclosed. The network includes a plurality of sensors each having a sensor ID, and the method includes performing the following steps at each of the plurality of sensors: receiving a stream of packets and identifying a topology trace packet in the stream of packets, wherein the topology trace packet has a destination address and an ID of a previous sensor, including the sensor ID in the topology trace packet, sending the topology trace packet to the destination address, forming a report message so as to include the sensor ID, the previous sensor ID, sending the report to the topology manager; and, providing network addresses of adjacent nodes to the topology manager.

Abstract: A wireless infrastructure node includes at least one processing device configured to receive a data packet from a wireless field device network (WFN) controller, where the data packet includes a network identifier. The at least one processing device is also configured to determine a field device network to receive the data packet based on the network identifier. The at least one processing device is further configured to transmit the data packet to a field device in the field device network. The wireless infrastructure node, the WFN controller, and the field device network comprise one logical WFN among a plurality of logical WFNs. The wireless infrastructure node is one of a plurality of pooled infrastructure nodes configured to communicate between a plurality of WFN controllers and a plurality of field device networks arranged in the plurality of logical WFNs.

Abstract: Each router in a group of routers (110R.2, 110R.3) includes an interface (P4) assigned a common virtual address for multicast (VAM). The common VAM is advertised in router advertisings for multicast traffic; other addresses are advertised for unicast. The member routers in the group share multicast forwarding databases. Increased throughput is therefore provided for multicast traffic without traffic replication. Any router in the group can service requests from end-point sources and receivers of multicast traffic, e.g. requests to join or leave a multicast group, or requests presented as multicast packets for forwarding to a multicast group.