Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, multicast traffic is simultaneously routed via all switches participating in the trunk (can be referred to as partner switches). A respective partner switch synchronizes the local multicast state information with all other partner switches. For a respective multicast group, a plurality of partner switches can be the part of the corresponding multicast distribution tree and obtain multicast traffic from uplink sources. For the multicast group, only one partner switch is elected as the primary forwarder which forwards the multicast traffic via the trunk. Another partner switch can become the primary forwarder for the multicast traffic of another multicast group and provide load sharing of multicast traffic between partner switches. Furthermore, because the partner switches have the multicast traffic and state readily available, in the event of a switch or link failure to the primary forwarder, another partner switch can readily become the primary forwarder.

Abstract: Techniques for organizing and grouping memory contents related to multicast routing so as to enable more efficient multicast operations. For PIM multicast routing, techniques are provided for organizing and grouping multicast routing information into data structures according to a plurality of dimensions such that multicast routing cache entries are accessible when performing a multicast routing operation by traversing the one or more data structures according to at least two of the dimensions.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, multicast traffic is simultaneously routed via all switches participating in the trunk (can be referred to as partner switches). A respective partner switch synchronizes the local multicast state information with all other partner switches. For a respective multicast group, a plurality of partner switches can be the part of the corresponding multicast distribution tree and obtain multicast traffic from uplink sources. For the multicast group, only one partner switch is elected as the primary forwarder which forwards the multicast traffic via the trunk. Another partner switch can become the primary forwarder for the multicast traffic of another multicast group and provide load sharing of multicast traffic between partner switches. Furthermore, because the partner switches have the multicast traffic and state readily available, in the event of a switch or link failure to the primary forwarder, another partner switch can readily become the primary forwarder.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, multicast traffic is simultaneously routed via all switches participating in the trunk (can be referred to as partner switches). A respective partner switch synchronizes the local multicast state information with all other partner switches. For a respective multicast group, a plurality of partner switches can be the part of the corresponding multicast distribution tree and obtain multicast traffic from uplink sources. For the multicast group, only one partner switch is elected as the primary forwarder which forwards the multicast traffic via the trunk. Another partner switch can become the primary forwarder for the multicast traffic of another multicast group and provide load sharing of multicast traffic between partner switches. Furthermore, because the partner switches have the multicast traffic and state readily available, in the event of a switch or link failure to the primary forwarder, another partner switch can readily become the primary forwarder.

Abstract: Techniques for organizing and grouping memory contents related to multicast routing so as to enable more efficient multicast operations. For PIM multicast routing, techniques are provided for organizing and grouping multicast routing information into data structures according to a plurality of dimensions such that multicast routing cache entries are accessible when performing a multicast routing operation by traversing the one or more data structures according to at least two of the dimensions.