Highly-scalable, software-defined, in-network multicasting of load statistics data

A computer-implemented method for highly-scalable, in-network multicasting of load statistics data, the method comprising:

• receiving, from an underlay controller, a match-and-action table that is indexed using one or more multicast (“MC”) group identifiers and includes one or more special MC headers;
• detecting a packet carrying statistics data;
• determining whether the packet includes an MC group identifier;
• wherein the MC group identifier identifies an MC group that includes one or more recipients of the statistics data;
• in response to determining that the packet includes the MC group identifier:
• using the MC group identifier, retrieving a special MC header, of the one or more special MC headers, from the match-and-action table;
• generating an encapsulated packet by encapsulating the packet with the special MC header;
• and
• providing the encapsulated packet to an interface controller for transmitting the encapsulated packet to one or more physical switches.