Systems and methods for reducing bias in multicast replication sequence

A network device for forwarding packets, comprising:

• an ingress port configured to receive at least a first data packet;
• a forwarder configured to:
• receiving a packet at a network device;
• determine a multicast group from the packet;
• select from a plurality of pre-existing replication lists, a replication list for the multicast group, wherein the replication list defines an order for replication of at least two or more destinations corresponding to the multicast group;
• generate a plurality of copies of the replication list;
• selecting in a randomized fashion one of the copies of the replication list;
• replicate the packet for the at least two or more destinations according to the one of the copies of the replication list;
• and
• forward the replicated packet to the at least two or more destinations determine a multicast group from the first data packet.

A method of reducing bias in multicast replication, the method comprising:

• receiving a packet at a network device;
• determining a multicast group from the packet;
• selecting from a plurality of pre-existing replication lists, a replication list for the multicast group, wherein the replication list defines an order for replication of at least two or more destinations corresponding to the multicast group wherein the list comprises
• a port bitmap that corresponds to the multicast group, wherein the port bitmap is a listing of ports of the network device belonging to the multicast group;
• generating a plurality of copies of the replication list;
• selecting in a randomized fashion one of the copies of the replication list;
• replicating the packet for the at least two or more destinations according to the one of the copies of the replication list;
• and
• forwarding the replicated packet to the at least two or more destinations.