Multicast/broadcast extension to a point-to-point unicast-only packet switch system

1. A method of routing a multicast packet through a unicast packet switch network of devices, the method comprising:

defining a virtual destination group, which includes destination devices of the multicast packet;

mapping the virtual destination group to an unused unicast destination code in routing tables of the devices;

routing the multicast packet from a source device to the destination devices using the routing tables; and

tracking validity of the multicast packet stored in a buffer of at least one of the network devices.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one the devices can transmit the multicast packet from more than one port.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual destination group is dynamic.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of tracking validity comprises:

resetting a valid bit corresponding to a port of the at least one network device after the packet is sent through the port; and

deallocating the multicast packet stored in the buffer when all valid bits are reset.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of tracking validity comprises:

setting a counter to represent a total number of ports of the at least one network device through which the multicast packet is to be sent;

decrementing the counter each time the multicast packet is sent through one of the ports of the at least one network device; and

deallocating the stored multicast packet when the counter is decremented to zero.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual destination group includes all devices on the network so that the multicast packet is a broadcast packet, and wherein the routing step involves routing the broadcast packet from a source device to all of the devices on the network using the routing tables.

7. A system for routing a multicast packet through a unicast packet switch network of devices, comprising:

a unicast routing table for each device having unused unicast entries in which a routing for a virtual destination group can be stored, the virtual destination group defining multicast packet destinations for a plurality of designated devices on the network;

a control unit configured to set the destination of the multicast packet to the virtual destination group, whereby the mapping of the routing tables sends the multicast packet to each of the devices in the virtual destination group; and

a means for tracking validity of the multicast packet stored in a buffer of at least one of the network devices.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein at least one the devices can transmit the multicast packet from more than one port.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the virtual destination group is dynamic.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein means for tracking validity comprises:

a means for resetting a valid bit corresponding to a port of the at least one network device after the packet is sent through the port; and

a means for deallocating the multicast packet stored in the buffer when all valid bits are reset.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the means for tracking validity comprises:

a means for setting a counter to represent a total number of ports of the at least one network device through which the multicast packet is to be sent;

a means for decrementing the counter each time the multicast packet is sent through one of the ports of the at least one network device; and

a means for deallocating the stored multicast packet when the counter is decremented to zero.

12. A unicast packet switching system comprising:

switching devices;

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; and

software executing in the processor configured to carry out the method of claim 1 .

13. A system for routing a multicast packet through a unicast packet switch network of devices, comprising:

a unicast routing table for each device having unused unicast entries in which a routing for a virtual destination group can be stored, the virtual destination group defining multicast packet destinations for a plurality of designated devices on the network, wherein the unicast routing table is configured to track validity of the multicast packet stored in a buffer of at least one of the network devices; and

a control unit configured to set the destination of the multicast packet to the virtual destination group, whereby the mapping of the routing tables sends the multicast packet to each of the devices in the virtual destination group.

14. A system for routing a multicast packet through a unicast packet switch network of devices, comprising:

a unicast routing table for each device having unused unicast entries in which a routing for a virtual destination group can be stored, the virtual destination group defining multicast packet destinations for a plurality of designated devices on the network;

a control unit configured to set the destination of the multicast packet to the virtual destination group, whereby the mapping of the routing tables sends the multicast packet to each of the devices in the virtual destination group; and

a counter configured to track validity of the multicast packet stored in a buffer of at least one of the network devices.