Abstract: Methods, apparatus and data structures are provided for managing multicast IP flows. According to one embodiment, a router identifies active multicast IP sessions. A data structure is maintained by the router that contains information regarding the active multicast IP sessions and includes multiple pairs of a source field and a group field ({S, G} pairs), a first pointer associated with each of the {S,G} pairs and a set of slots. Each of the {S, G} pairs defines an active multicast IP session. The source field defines a source of a multicast transmission of the multicast IP session and the group field defines a group corresponding to the multicast IP session. The first pointer points to a dynamically allocated set of outbound interface (OIF) blocks. Each slot has stored therein a second pointer to a transmit control block (TCB) data structure that services users participating in the multicast IP session.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and data structures are provided for managing multicast IP flows. According to one embodiment, a router identifies active multicast IP sessions. A data structure is maintained by the router that contains information regarding the active multicast IP sessions and includes multiple pairs of a source field and a group field ({S, G} pairs), a first pointer associated with each of the {S,G} pairs and a set of slots. Each of the {S, G} pairs defines an active multicast IP session. The source field defines a source of a multicast transmission of the multicast IP session and the group field defines a group corresponding to the multicast IP session. The first pointer points to a dynamically allocated set of outbound interface (OIF) blocks. Each slot has stored therein a second pointer to a transmit control block (TCB) data structure that services users participating in the multicast IP session.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and data structures are provided for managing multicast IP flows. According to one embodiment, a router identifies active multicast IP sessions. A data structure is maintained by the router that contains information regarding the active multicast IP sessions and includes multiple pairs of a source field and a group field ({S, G} pairs), a first pointer associated with each of the {S,G} pairs and a set of slots. Each of the {S, G} pairs defines an active multicast IP session. The source field defines a source of a multicast transmission of the multicast IP session and the group field defines a group corresponding to the multicast IP session. The first pointer points to a dynamically allocated set of outbound interface (OIF) blocks. Each slot has stored therein a second pointer to a transmit control block (TCB) data structure that services users participating in the multicast IP session.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and data structures are provided for managing multicast IP flows. According to one embodiment, a router identifies active multicast IP sessions. A data structure is maintained by the router that contains information regarding the active multicast IP sessions and includes multiple pairs of a source field and a group field ({S, G} pairs), a first pointer associated with each of the {S,G} pairs and a set of slots. Each of the {S, G} pairs defines an active multicast IP session. The source field defines a source of a multicast transmission of the multicast IP session and the group field defines a group corresponding to the multicast IP session. The first pointer points to a dynamically allocated set of outbound interface (OIF) blocks. Each slot has stored therein a second pointer to a transmit control block (TCB) data structure that services users participating in the multicast IP session.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and data structures are provided for managing multicast IP flows. According to one embodiment, a network switch module includes a memory and multiple processors partitioned among multiple virtual routers (VRs). Each VR maintains a data structure containing therein information regarding the multicast sessions, including a first value for each of the multicast sessions, at least one chain of one or more blocks of second values and one or more transmit control blocks (TCBs). Each first value is indicative of a chain of one or more blocks of second values. Each second value corresponds to an outbound interface (OIF) participating in the multicast session and identifies a number of times packets associated with the multicast session are to be replicated. The TCBs have stored therein control information to process or route packets. Each second value is indicative of a TCB that identifies an OIF of the network device through which packets are to be transmitted.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and data structures are provided for managing multicast IP flows. According to one embodiment, active multicast IP sessions are identified by a network device. A data structure is maintained by the network device and contains therein information regarding the multicast sessions, including a first value for each of the multicast sessions, at least one chain of one or more blocks of second values and one or more transmit control blocks (TCBs). Each first value is indicative of a chain of one or more blocks of second values. Each second value corresponds to an outbound interface (OIF) participating in the multicast session and identifies a number of times packets associated with the multicast session are to be replicated. The TCBs have stored therein control information to process or route packets. Each second value is indicative of a TCB that identifies an OIF of the network device through which packets are to be transmitted.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and data structures are provided for managing multicast IP flows. According to one embodiment, a network switch module includes a memory and multiple processors partitioned among multiple virtual routers (VRs). Each VR maintains a data structure containing therein information regarding the multicast sessions, including a first value for each of the multicast sessions, at least one chain of one or more blocks of second values and one or more transmit control blocks (TCBs). Each first value is indicative of a chain of one or more blocks of second values. Each second value corresponds to an outbound interface (OIF) participating in the multicast session and identifies a number of times packets associated with the multicast session are to be replicated. The TCBs have stored therein control information to process or route packets. Each second value is indicative of a TCB that identifies an OIF of the network device through which packets are to be transmitted.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and data structures are provided for managing multicast IP flows. According to one embodiment, active multicast IP sessions are identified by a network device. A data structure is maintained by the network device and contains therein information regarding the multicast sessions, including a first value for each of the multicast sessions, at least one chain of one or more blocks of second values and one or more transmit control blocks (TCBs). Each first value is indicative of a chain of one or more blocks of second values. Each second value corresponds to an outbound interface (OIF) participating in the multicast session and identifies a number of times packets associated with the multicast session are to be replicated. The TCBs have stored therein control information to process or route packets. Each second value is indicative of a TCB that identifies an OIF of the network device through which packets are to be transmitted.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and data structures are provided for managing multicast IP flows. According to one embodiment, active multicast IP sessions are identified by a router. A data structure is maintained by the router and contains therein information regarding the multicast sessions, including a first pointer for each of the multicast sessions, at least one chain of one or more blocks of second pointers and one or more transmit control blocks (TCBs). Each first pointer points to a chain of one or more blocks of second pointers. Each second pointer corresponds to an outbound interface (OIF) participating in the multicast session and identifies a number of times packets associated with the multicast session are to be replicated. The TCBs have stored therein control information to process or route packets. Each second pointer points to a TCB that identifies an OIF of the router through which packets are to be transmitted.