Multicasting network packets
View Patent ↗Multicasting network packets is disclosed. A total number of copies of a frame, t, to be sent is determined. A number of copies of the frame, m, which is less than a total number of copies of the frame, t, to be made during a current iteration is determined. M copies of the frame are made. The m copies of the frame are then sent to their destinations. The original input frame is provided as output with an indication that the frame should be returned for further processing. Processing of the frame is discontinued during an interval in which other frames are processed. The process is repeated until t copies have been sent.
1. A method for multicasting a data frame comprising:
preparing at a network processor m copies of the frame, the number m being less than a total number of copies of the frame, t, to be sent, wherein the number m is predetermined and wherein the number m is user configurable;
providing the m copies to a traffic manager configured to queue each copy in its respective input queue;
providing the original input frame to the traffic manager with an indication that the frame should be returned to the network processor for further processing;
discontinuing processing the frame at the network processor during an interval during which one or more frames other than the frame being multicast may be processed; and
repeating until t copies have been sent.
2. A method for multicasting as in claim 1 further comprising determining the number of copies m to be prepared.
3. A method for multicasting as in claim 2 wherein determining the number of copies m to be prepared depends on the number of copies of the frame that have already been sent.
4. A method for multicasting as in claim 2 wherein determining the number of copies m to be prepared depends on the total number of copies of the frame, t, to be sent.
5. A method for multicasting as in claim 2 wherein determining the number of copies m to be prepared depends on a traffic level.
6. A method for multicasting as in claim 2 wherein determining the number of copies m to be prepared depends on a priority level associated with the frame.
7. A method for multicasting as in claim 1 further comprising receiving the frame back at the network processor and preparing at the network processor the next set of m copies in response to receiving the frame back.
8. A method for multicasting as in claim 1 wherein a copy of the frame may be different than one or more other copies of the frame.
9. A method for multicasting as in claim 1 wherein the number m is determined at least in part by one or more of the following factors: a total number of destinations to which the frame will be sent, a number of copies of the frame already sent, a number of copies of the frame remaining to be sent, a load of the network processor, a priority level of the frame, and a time of day.
10. A method for multicasting as in claim 1 wherein successive iterations of receiving the frame, preparing m copies, providing the m copies to the traffic manager, providing the original frame to the traffic manager, and discontinuing processing the frame during an interval during which one or more frames other than the frame being multicast may be processed are completed until all t copies of the frame have been prepared and provided to the traffic manager.
11. A device for multicasting a data frame comprising:
an input interface configured to receive the frame; and
a frame processor configured to:
prepare m copies of the frame, the number m being less than a total number of copies of the frame, t, to be sent, wherein the number m is predetermined and wherein the number m is user configurable;
provide the m copies to a traffic manager configured to queue each copy in its respective input queue;
provide the original input frame to the traffic manager with an indication that the frame should be returned to the frame processor for further processing; and
discontinue processing the frame during an interval during which one or more frames other than the frame being multicast may be processed.
12. A device as in claim 11 wherein the processing further comprises a further iteration of preparing m copies of the frame, providing the m copies to the traffic manager, and discontinuing processing the frame during an interval during which one or more frames other than the frame being multicast may be processed.
13. A device as in claim 12 in which successive iterations of receiving the frame, preparing m copies, providing the m copies to the traffic manager, providing the original frame to the traffic manager, and discontinuing processing the frame during an interval during which one or more frames other than the frame being multicast may be processed are completed until all t copies of the frame have been prepared and provided to the traffic manager.
14. A device as in claim 11 wherein the frame processor is further configured to determine the number of copies m to be prepared.
15. A device as in claim 11 wherein the number m is determined at least in part by one or more of the following factors: a total number of destinations to which the frame will be sent, a number of copies of the frame already sent, a number of copies of the frame remaining to be sent, a load of the frame processor, a priority level of the frame, and a time of day.
16. A device as in claim 11 wherein a copy of the frame may be different than one or more other copies of the frame.
17. A computer program product for multicasting a data frame, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:
preparing at a network processor m copies of the frame, the number m being less than a total number of copies of the frame, t, to be sent, wherein the number m is predetermined and wherein the number m is user configurable;
providing the m copies to a traffic manager configured to queue each copy in its respective input queue;
providing the original input frame to the traffic manager with an indication that the frame should be returned to the network processor for further processing;
discontinuing processing the frame at the network processor during an interval during which one or more frames other than the frame being multicast may be processed; and
repeating until t copies have been sent.
18. A computer program product as in claim 17 wherein successive iterations of receiving the frame, preparing m copies, providing the m copies to the traffic manager, providing the original frame to the traffic manager, and discontinuing processing the frame during an interval during which one or more frames other than the frame being multicast may be processed are completed until all t copies of the frame have been prepared and provided to the traffic manager.
19. A computer program product as in claim 17 wherein the number m is determined at least in part by one or more of the following factors: a total number of destinations to which the frame will be sent, a number of copies of the frame already sent, a number of copies of the frame remaining to be sent, a load of the network processor, a priority level of the frame, and a time of day.
20. A computer program product as in claim 17 wherein a copy of the frame may be different than one or more other copies of the frame.