Method and apparatus for maintaining randomly accessible copy number information on a network switch

An apparatus for maintaining copy information pertaining to data frames received by a multiport switch that forwards received data frames to plural output ports includes a random access storage area and a control logic, both of which are located on the switch. The random access storage area stores a copy number that indicates the number of output ports that have not yet transmitted their copy of a designated data frame. The control logic addresses specific fixed locations within the random access storage area using frame pointers that identify where the received data frames are stored in an external memory. The information maintained in the random access storage area is accessible to all components of the multiport switch.