Bit indexed explicit replication for layer 2 networking

A router comprising:

• a microprocessor, and
• a non-transient computer readable storage medium, wherein the non-transient computer readable storage medium comprises program instructions executable to perform a method comprising:
• receiving a data packet from another router coupled thereto;
• incorporating a bit mask and a tag with the data packet to create a modified data packet, wherein the tag indicates that the modified data packet comprises the bit mask for determining one or more ports for forwarding the modified data packet;
• and
• forwarding the modified data packet to a switch, which determines based on the tag being set, the one or more ports of a plurality of ports for forwarding the modified data packet and based on the tag not being set, to flood the modified data packet to the plurality of ports of the switch and which generates a copy of the modified data packet for each of the one or more ports and updates the bit mask in the modified data packet.

A system comprising:

• a switch;
• and
• a router coupled to the switch, the router comprising:
• a microprocessor, and
• a non-transient computer readable storage medium, wherein the non-transient computer readable storage medium comprises program instructions executable to perform a method comprising:
• receiving a data packet from another router coupled thereto;
• incorporating a bit mask and a tag with the data packet to create a modified data packet, wherein the tag indicates that the modified data packet comprises the bit mask for determining one or more ports for forwarding the modified data packet;
• and
• forwarding the modified data packet to a switch, which determines based on the tag being set, the one or more ports of a plurality of ports for forwarding the modified data packet and based on the tag not being set, to flood the modified data packet to the plurality of ports of the switch and which generates a copy of the modified data packet for each of the one or more ports and updates the bit mask in the modified data packet.