Multicast packet processing method and device

A first network device, wherein the first network device comprises:

• at least one processor;
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first network device to:
• obtain a packet comprising a payload;
• obtain a first multicast packet and a second multicast packet based on the packet,
• wherein the first multicast packet comprises a first multicast packet header and the payload, the first multicast packet header comprises first in-situ flow information telemetry information and a first multi-level flow identifier, the first multi-level flow identifier identifies a first forwarding path of the payload, the first forwarding path comprises a path from the first network device to a second network device being a downstream device of the first network device,
• the second multicast packet comprises a second multicast packet header and the payload, the second multicast packet header comprises a second multi-level flow identifier and the first in-situ flow information telemetry information, the second multi-level flow identifier identifies a second forwarding path of the payload, the second forwarding path comprises a path from the first network device to a third network device being a downstream device of the first network device,
• the first in-situ flow information telemetry information indicates performing in-situ flow information telemetry;
• and
• send the first multicast packet to the second network device via the first forwarding path, and send the second multicast packet to the third network device via the second forwarding path.

A non-transitory storage medium storing information comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, control the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

• obtaining a packet comprising a payload;
• obtaining a first multicast packet and a second multicast packet based on the packet, wherein the first multicast packet comprises a first multicast packet header and the payload, the first multicast packet header comprises first in-situ flow information telemetry information and a first multi-level flow identifier, the first multi-level flow identifier identifies a first forwarding path of the payload, the first forwarding path comprises a path from the first network device to a second network device being a downstream device of the first network device,
• the second multicast packet comprises a second multicast packet header and the payload, the second multicast packet header comprises a second multi-level flow identifier and the first in-situ flow information telemetry information, the second multi-level flow identifier identifies a second forwarding path of the payload, the second forwarding path comprises a path from the first network device to a third network device being a downstream device of the first network device,
• the first in-situ flow information telemetry information indicates performing in-situ flow information telemetry;
• and
• sending the first multicast packet to the second network device via the first forwarding path, and sending the second multicast packet to the third network device via the second forwarding path.