EFFICIENT MULTICAST TRAFFIC DISTRIBUTION IN AN OVERLAY NETWORK USING UNDERLAY MULTICAST DISTRIBUTION

Abstract: a network device operating as a tunnel endpoint in an overlay network is provided. during operation, the network device can receive a multicast packet destined to a first multicast group via an edge port. the edge port can be coupled to the source of the first multicast group. the network device can then map the first multicast group to a second multicast group configured in an underlying network of the overlay network by applying a mapping rule. subsequently, the network device can encapsulate the multicast packet with a first encapsulation header with a destination address, which is a multicast address of the second multicast group. the network device can then identify a rendezvous point (rp) of the second multicast group and forward the encapsulated multicast packet to the rp based on the multicast address of the second multicast group.

Inventor(s): Tathagata Nandy, Chethan Chavadibagilu Radhakrishnabhat, Thomas Samuel, Subramanian Muthukumar, Somnath Bhimaram Lohar

CPC Classification: H04L45/16 (Multipoint routing)

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