Redundant multicast tree in a fat tree network topology

An apparatus implemented as a physical machine, the apparatus comprising:

• non-transitory machine readable media configured for storing executable machine readable code;
• a device interface circuit configured for communications in a data network;
• and
• a processor circuit configured for executing the machine readable code, and when executing the machine readable code operable for:
• identifying within a network topology of the data network a plurality of network devices;
• and
• establishing a multiple tree topology comprising a first multicast tree and a second multicast tree, the first and second multicast trees operable as redundant trees for multicast traffic in the network topology, the establishing including:
• allocating a first of the network devices as a corresponding root of the first multicast tree, allocating a first group of intermediate devices from the network devices as first forwarding devices in the first multicast tree, allocating a second group of intermediate devices as belonging to first leaf devices in the first multicast tree, and allocating terminal devices of the network devices as belonging to the first leaf devices, and
• allocating a second of the network devices as the corresponding root of the second multicast tree, allocating the second group of intermediate devices as second forwarding devices in the second multicast tree, allocating the first group of intermediate devices as belonging to second leaf devices in the second multicast tree, and allocating the terminal devices as belonging to the second leaf devices.

One or more non-transitory tangible media encoded with logic for execution by a machine and when executed by the machine operable for:

• identifying within a network topology, by the machine, a plurality of network devices;
• and
• establishing by the machine, a multiple tree topology comprising a first multicast tree and a second multicast tree, the first and second multicast trees operable as redundant trees for multicast traffic in the network topology, the establishing including:
• allocating a first of the network devices as a corresponding root of the first multicast tree, allocating a first group of intermediate devices from the network devices as first forwarding devices in the first multicast tree, allocating a second group of intermediate devices as belonging to first leaf devices in the first multicast tree, and allocating terminal devices of the network devices as belonging to the first leaf devices, and
• allocating a second of the network devices as the corresponding root of the second multicast tree, allocating the second group of intermediate devices as second forwarding devices in the second multicast tree, allocating the first group of intermediate devices as belonging to second leaf devices in the second multicast tree, and allocating the terminal devices as belonging to the second leaf devices.