Patent ID: 8081630
Filing Date: 2011-12-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of transmitting packets within a system comprising a plurality of network units connected by a switching fabric, the system including at least one unit that is operable to perform a lookup based on address data in an incoming packet and at least one other unit, the method comprising: applying to said incoming packet a temporary header comprising two forwarding instructions to be executed and an order instruction that is separate from the two forwarding instructions and wherein the order instruction indicates which of said forwarding instructions shall be executed first, wherein a first forwarding instruction designates an egress port and a second forwarding instruction designates a diversion port; determining whether the packet is to be sent to said at least one other unit through said diversion port; and in response to a determination that the packet is to be sent through said diversion port, setting the order instruction to indicate that the packet is to be sent through the diversion port first and to be sent through the egress port following receipt of the packet back from the at least one other unit.