Methods and apparatus for efficient data transfer within a user space network stack. Unlike prior art monolithic networking stacks, the exemplary networking stack architecture described hereinafter includes various components that span multiple domains (both in-kernel, and non-kernel). For example, unlike traditional socket based communication, disclosed embodiments can transfer data directly between the kernel and user space domains. Direct transfer reduces the per-byte and per-packet costs relative to socket based communication. A user space networking stack is disclosed that enables extensible, cross-platform-capable, user space control of the networking protocol stack functionality. The user space networking stack facilitates tighter integration between the protocol layers (including TLS) and the application or daemon. Exemplary systems can support multiple networking protocol stack instances (including an in-kernel traditional network stack).

Methods and apparatus for efficient data transfer within a user space network stack. Unlike prior art monolithic networking stacks, the exemplary networking stack architecture described hereinafter includes various components that span multiple domains (both in-kernel, and non-kernel). For example, unlike traditional socket based communication, disclosed embodiments can transfer data directly between the kernel and user space domains. Direct transfer reduces the per-byte and per-packet costs relative to socket based communication. A user space networking stack is disclosed that enables extensible, cross-platform-capable, user space control of the networking protocol stack functionality. The user space networking stack facilitates tighter integration between the protocol layers (including TLS) and the application or daemon. Exemplary systems can support multiple networking protocol stack instances (including an in-kernel traditional network stack).

In a method for addressing messages in a computer network in which two different types of address are used, wherein at least one first network element (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) uses exclusively a first type of address, at least one second network element (14, 15, 16, 17, 18) uses exclusively a second type of address and at least one third network element (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) uses both types of address, at least one third network element (9) is a communication terminal which, besides its function as a communication terminal, also performs a function as an address converter for messages for which said communication terminal is neither the original sender nor an ultimate recipient.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for determining a multicast path, a method for receiving a data packet, and a router. The method for determining a multicast path includes: receiving, by a multicast address translation router, a first multicast join request packet, where the first multicast join request packet is an IPV4 packet, or the first multicast join request packet is an Internet Protocol version 6 IPV6 packet and a multicast address of the first multicast join request packet is an IPV6 multicast address obtained by performing Internet Protocol version translation on an IPV4 multicast address; and determining a shorter path between a first path and a second path. The multicast address translation router may determine the shorter path between the first path and the second path, thereby implementing a method for selecting a shorter path from the paths of different network types, which improves multicast efficiency.