Final answer:
The total number of multicasts buffered is typically calculated by the sum of buffered multicasts, though it can also depend on the multicast protocol, network topology, and experimental design.
Step-by-step explanation:
The total number of multicasts buffered across all processes in a given run would be calculated by the sum of buffered multicasts. This is because the buffering of multicasts is based on how each process handles incoming multicast messages before they are processed. However, this buffering can also be influenced by the multicast protocol in use, which defines how multicast traffic is managed on the network.
Additionally, the network topology could have an impact on how multicasts are transmitted and buffered if the network design introduces delays or limits throughput, potentially increasing the need for buffering. Finally, the specifics of the experimental design could also prescribe the number of multicasts to be buffered if it includes predefined conditions or constraints on how multicasting should occur during the experiment.