Some embodiments provide a method for forwarding multicast data messages at a forwarding element on a host computer. The method receives a multicast data message from a routing element executing on the host computer along with metadata appended to the multicast data message by the routing element. Based on a destination address of the multicast data message, the method identifies a set of recipient ports for a multicast group with which the multicast data message is associated. For each recipient port, the method uses the metadata appended to the multicast data message by the routing element to determine whether to deliver a copy of the multicast data message to the recipient port.

Technologies include a network switch configured to perform packet replication. The network switch includes a network communicator, an entity manager, and a tag manager. The network communicator is to receive a data packet, and the entity manger is to identify an entity associated with the data packet and determine a tag associated with the entity. Additionally, the tag manager is to determine a packet replication configuration associated with the tag, and perform one or more per-port forwarding actions based on the packet replication configuration. The packet replication configuration includes one or more destination ports to be masked and a number of copies to be replicated to be sent out on of at least one destination port.

A method and system for communication between devices includes connecting a plurality of communication devices through a communication system. At least one communication device acts as a source entity sending a plurality of data packets to an access point. A plurality of communication devices act as destination entities receiving the data packets. The data packets are distributed, by the access point, to the destination entities in such a way that the data packets are queued for receipt by each destination entity in a separate non-interdependent queue.

A method and system for communication between devices includes connecting a plurality of communication devices through a communication system. At least one communication device acts as a source entity sending a plurality of data packets to an access point. A plurality of communication devices act as destination entities receiving the data packets. The data packets are distributed, by the access point, to the destination entities in such a way that the data packets are queued for receipt by each destination entity in a separate non-interdependent queue.

Techniques for operating a networking switch in two broadcast networks are provided. In some embodiments, the switch may instantiate a first controller client and a second controller client in a control plane of the switch; register the first controller client with a first broadcast controller associated with a first broadcast network; and register the second controller client with a second broadcast controller associated with a second broadcast network. The switch may further receive a first multicast route through the first controller client; receive a second multicast route through the second controller client; and program at least one of the first multicast route and the second multicast route into a multicast routing information base.

Techniques for operating a networking switch in two broadcast networks are provided. In some embodiments, the switch may instantiate a first controller client and a second controller client in a control plane of the switch; register the first controller client with a first broadcast controller associated with a first broadcast network; and register the second controller client with a second broadcast controller associated with a second broadcast network. The switch may further receive a first multicast route through the first controller client; receive a second multicast route through the second controller client; and program at least one of the first multicast route and the second multicast route into a multicast routing information base.

A network device role self-adaptive method and apparatus are provided. Specifically, a first network device and a neighbor network device both determine their respective priority according to information including a connection result between the corresponding network device itself and a server; the first network device receives a second start frame which is sent by the neighbor network device and comprises the priority of the neighbor network device, and then determines whether its own priority and the priority of the neighbor network device meet preset conditions; and if yes, when the priority of the first network device is higher than the priority of the neighbor network device, the first network device determines its own role as an authentication access controller, and when the priority of the first network device is lower than the priority of the neighbor network device, the first network device determines its own role as a request device.

A method for data transmission includes: if correctly receiving one or more source data packets, a destination node selecting source data packets which have not been saved from the source data packets to save; if receiving one or more network coded data packets, the destination node decoding them, and if the decoding can be correctly conducted and source data packets can be obtained, the destination node selecting source data packets which have not been saved from obtained source data packets to save; if judging that the number of currently saved source data packets is greater than one, the destination node selecting and sending one saved source data to other destination nodes, or after conducting network coding according to part or all of saved source data packets to obtain one or more network coded data packets, the destination node selecting and sending one network coded data packet to other destination nodes.

Techniques for loop prevention while allowing multipath in a virtual Layer 2 (L2) network are described. In an example, a network interface card (NIC) supports the virtual L2 network. The NIC is configured to receive, via a first port of the NIC, an L2 frame that includes a source media access control (MAC) address and a destination MAC address. Based on a loop prevention rule, the NIC transmits the L2 frame via its ports except the first port. In an additional example, the NIC is further configured to send an L2 frame to a host via the first port of the NIC. The L2 frame can be a bridge protocol data unit (BPDU). Upon receiving a BPDU from the host via the first port, the NIC determines that the BPDU is looped back and disables the first port.

Techniques for loop prevention while allowing multipath in a virtual Layer 2 (L2) network are described. In an example, a network interface card (NIC) supports the virtual L2 network. The NIC is configured to receive, via a first port of the NIC, an L2 frame that includes a source media access control (MAC) address and a destination MAC address. Based on a loop prevention rule, the NIC transmits the L2 frame via its ports except the first port. In an additional example, the NIC is further configured to send an L2 frame to a host via the first port of the NIC. The L2 frame can be a bridge protocol data unit (BPDU). Upon receiving a BPDU from the host via the first port, the NIC determines that the BPDU is looped back and disables the first port.