Identical packet multicast packet ready command

A method of performing an identical packet multicast packet ready command (common packet multicast mode operation) is described herein. A packet ready command is received from a first memory system via a bus and onto a network interface circuit. The packet ready command includes a multicast value. A communication mode is determined as a function of the multicast value. The multicast value indicates a single packet is to be communicated by the network interface circuit to a first number of destinations. A free packet command is output from the network interface circuit onto the bus. The free packet command includes a Free On Last Transfer (FOLT) value that indicates that the packet will not be freed from the first memory system by the network interface circuit once the packet is transmitted. The network interface circuit and the memory system are included on an Island-Based Network Flow Processor.