Multicast traffic generation using hierarchical replication mechanisms for distributed switches

A distributed switch comprising a plurality of switches, comprising:

• an ingress switch of the plurality of switches configured to receive a multicast data frame on a receiving port and determine destination switches of the plurality of switches that should receive at least a portion of the multicast data frame, wherein the receiving port of the ingress switch is associated with a first bridge element, wherein the portion of the multicast data frame is at least a portion of a payload of the multicast data frame, and wherein at least one connection interface in the ingress switch is configured to forward the portion of the multicast data frame from the first bridge element to a second bridge element in the ingress switch;
• and
• a first surrogate switch in a hierarchy of switches selected from the plurality of switches, wherein the first surrogate switch is configured to receive the portion of the multicast data frame from the ingress switch, wherein the first surrogate switch is assigned in the hierarchy to forward the portion of the multicast data frame to both of:
• a computing device coupled to the first surrogate switch that is at least one final destination of the multicast data frame and a second surrogate switch in the hierarchy, wherein each of the plurality of switches include at least two bridge elements that are each associated with at least one connection interface on the switches, and
• wherein a connection interface of the first surrogate switch is associated with a third bridge element, wherein the connection interface of the first surrogate switch is configured to forward the portion of the multicast data frame from the third bridge element to a fourth bridge element in the first surrogate switch.

A distributed switch comprising a plurality of switches that each have a direct connection to each other, comprising:

• an ingress switch of the plurality of switches configured to receive a multicast data frame on a receiving port and determine destination switches of the plurality of switches that should receive at least a portion of the multicast data frame, wherein the receiving port of the ingress switch is associated with a first bridge element, wherein the portion of the multicast data frame is at least a portion of a payload of the multicast data frame, and wherein at least one connection interface in the ingress switch is configured to forward the portion of the multicast data frame from the first bridge element to a second bridge element in the ingress switch;
• and
• a first surrogate switch in a hierarchy of switches, wherein the ingress switch is configured to transmit the portion of the multicast data frame to the first surrogate switch instead of transmitting the portion of the multicast data frame directly to all of the destination switches, wherein the first surrogate switch is assigned in the hierarchy to forward the portion of the multicast data frame to at least one of:
• one of the destination switches and a second surrogate switch in the hierarchy, wherein each of the plurality of switches include at least two bridge elements that are each associated with at least one connection interface on the switches, and
• wherein a connection interface of the first surrogate switch is associated with a third bridge element, wherein the connection interface of the first surrogate switch is configured to forward the portion of the multicast data frame from the third bridge element to a fourth bridge element in the first surrogate switch.