Group rate limiters for multicast data packets

In example implementations, a method is provided. The method detects, by a processor, a change in incoming data packet relative to a previously received data packet. In response to the change, group rate limiters are enabled to the incoming data packets for each one of a plurality of different data packet groups. The group rate limiters stop the incoming data packet when the data packet is assigned to one of the plurality of different data packet groups that has reached a respective group rate limiter. A hardware controller is programmed to forward respective data packets in each one of the plurality of different data packet groups.