| abstract |
A network device for processing data on a data network includes a port interface, connected to a plurality of ports configured to receive data packets from a data network and to send processed data packets to the data network, a memory management unit, in communication with and controlling memory external to the network device, configured store data on and retrieve data from the memory, an ingress module, in communication with the port interface and the memory management unit, configured to parse the received data packet and a search module, in communication with the parser, configured to provide lookup searches of tables upon request from the parser. The ingress module is configured to assign a packet identifier to each data packet received the plurality of ports and the packet identifier is used to track each data packet within the network device. |