Multicasting using a multitiered distributed virtual bridge hierarchy

A method of forwarding a multicast data frame, the method comprising:

• receiving a multicast data frame at a first port of a first bridge element of a first super node;
• forwarding a first copy of the multicast data frame to a first computing node directly coupled to a second port of the bridge element;
• forwarding a second copy of the multicast data frame from the first bridge element to a second bridge element of the first super node;
• and
• forwarding a third copy of the multicast data frame from the second bridge element to a second computing node coupled to the second bridge element.

An apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of computing nodes;
• and
• a distributed virtual bridge comprising:
• a plurality of bridge elements coupled to the plurality of computing nodes, wherein the plurality of bridge elements are configured to forward a copy of a multicast data frame to the plurality of computing nodes using group member information associated with addresses of the plurality of server computers,
• wherein a first bridge element of the plurality of bridge elements is configured to forward a first copy of the plurality of copies of the multicast data frame to a first computing node of the plurality of computing nodes, wherein the first computing node is directly coupled to a port of the first bridge element,
• wherein the first bridge element is configured to forward a second copy of the plurality of copies of the multicast data frame to a second bridge, wherein the first bridge elements is located on a first super node and the second bridge element is located on a second super node,
• wherein the second bridge element is configured to forward a third copy of the plurality of copies of the multicast data frame to a third bridge element of the second super node;
• and
• a controlling bridge coupled to the plurality of bridge elements, the controlling bridge configured to communicate the group member information to the plurality of bridge elements.