Efficient control packet replication in data plane

A network element, to be coupled with a plurality of subscriber end stations through an access network, configured to replicate a control packet meant for the plurality of subscriber end stations, wherein the plurality of subscriber end stations are to be bound to a multibind interface of the network element, the network element comprising:

• a control plane comprising:
• a packet generation module configured to:
• generate the control packet, wherein the control packet is to be replicated and distributed at a forwarding plane, and
• generate a set of metadata in association with the control packet that includes a replication indicator and a control message route identification information, and
• a communication module configured to distribute the control packet and the set of metadata to the forwarding plane;
• and
• the forwarding plane, coupled with the control plane, comprising a plurality of line cards that each service one or more circuits bound to the multibind interface, wherein each line card is configured to include a list of circuit identifiers in association with the control message route identification information, and wherein the list of circuit identifiers includes at least identifiers the for circuits it handles that are bound to the multibind interface, wherein the plurality of line cards is configured to:
• receive the control packet and the set of metadata from the control plane,
• detect the replication indicator,
• in response to detecting the replication indicator, determine a plurality of subscriber end station identifiers based on the control message route identification information,
• replicate the control packet for each of the plurality of subscriber end station identifiers, and
• distribute the replicated control packets to the plurality of subscriber end stations using the plurality of subscriber end station identifiers.

A tangible non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions for a microprocessor of a forwarding plane, which, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the microprocessor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a message from a control plane that indicates the forwarding plane should add an identifier for one of a plurality of subscriber end stations to a list of outgoing interfaces for a multibind interface;
• adding, in response to receiving the message, the identifier for the one of the plurality of subscriber end stations to the list of outgoing interfaces for the multibind interface;
• receiving a control packet from the control plane, wherein the control plane generated the control packet;
• detecting a replication indicator associated with the control packet;
• determining the plurality of subscriber end stations, each of the plurality of subscriber end stations being associated with the control packet;
• replicating the control packet for each of the plurality of subscriber end stations;
• and
• distributing the replicated control packets to the plurality of subscriber end stations.