Abstract: A method for replicating a control packet in a forwarding plane of a network element, the control packet being destined for a plurality of subscriber end stations. The forwarding plane receives the control packet from a control plane and detects a replication indicator associated with the control packet. The forwarding plane determines the plurality of subscriber end stations as each of the plurality of subscriber end stations is associated with the control packet. The forwarding plane then replicates the control packet for each of the plurality of subscriber end stations and distributes the replicated control packets to the plurality of subscriber end stations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for network congestion remediation utilizing loop free alternate load sharing within a network device are described. The network device monitors a plurality of egress output queues. Upon detecting congestion at one of the output queues that is a primary next hop for traffic matching an entry of a forwarding table, the network device causes some of the affected traffic to continue to utilize the congested output queue and some of the affected traffic to utilize a loop free alternate next hop via a different output queue at a different port. Upon detecting an end to the congestion, the network device sends all of the affected traffic using the primary next hop.

Abstract: A method for replicating a control packet in a forwarding plane of a network element, the control packet being destined for a plurality of subscriber end stations. The forwarding plane receives the control packet from a control plane and detects a replication indicator associated with the control packet. The forwarding plane determines the plurality of subscriber end stations as each of the plurality of subscriber end stations is associated with the control packet. The forwarding plane then replicates the control packet for each of the plurality of subscriber end stations and distributes the replicated control packets to the plurality of subscriber end stations.