US Patent 11985038 Selecting forwarder in a network installation

Examples described herein relate to a selection of a network device in a network installation for a forwarder operation. Selection may include computing a performance score based on a set of performance parameters. Broadcasting the computed performance score to other network devices. Receiving performance scores from the other network devices. Comparing the received performance scores with the computed performance score. Continuing in the forwarder mode based on a determination that the received performance scores are less than its computed performance score. Receiving multicast Domain Name Service (mDNS) packets from one or more client devices. Sending the received mDNS packets to a central service.