Multicast message filtering in virtual environments
Various systems, processes, and products may be used to filter multicast messages in virtual environments. In particular implementations, a system, process, and product for filtering multicast messages in virtual environments may include the ability to determine whether a multicast message has been received, examine a local filtering store for a match for the destination address of the multicast message, and send the message to a number of virtual machines if a match for the address is found. The system, process, and product may also include the ability to analyze a filtering store of at least one of the virtual machines for a match for the address if a match is not found in the local filtering store and send the message to a number of the virtual machines if a match for the address is found in a filtering store of one of the virtual machines.
1. A method comprising:
determining whether a multicast message has been received, the message including a destination address;
examining a local filtering store for a match for the destination address;
sending the message to a number of virtual machines if a match for the address is found;
analyzing a filtering store of at least one of the virtual machines for a match for the address if a match is not found in the local filtering store;
dropping the message if a match for the destination address is not found in the local filtering store and the filtering stores of the virtual machines;
sending the message to a number of the virtual machines if a match for the address is found in a filtering store of one of the virtual machines; and
identifying the virtual machines to analyze for a match for the destination address.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising analyzing filtering stores of the virtual machines when the local store is full.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a multicast filtering address from a virtual machine;
determining whether a match for the address exists in the local filtering store; and
storing filtering data in a filtering store of one of the virtual machines if there is no match for the address in the local filtering store.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising storing filtering data for the destination address in the local filtering store if the local store is not full.
5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising determining the filtering data to store in the filtering store of the virtual machine.