These processors are highly specialized integrated circuits that handle the wire-speed data path and perform protocol classification and analysis. Queing and Access Control - The identified frames are placed in appropriate queues for further processing. They are also checked against security access policy rules to see if they should be forwarded or discarded. In most routers, for example, the host CPU handles the network-management functions and the routing of data in the lookup address table in the system itself. But packet processing is typically done in software, not hardware, thereby causing one of the biggest problems-latency.
Network processors is one of the methods to solve the latency or delay problems.
Programmability - The network processor must be easily programmable in order to support customization of feature sets and the rapid integration of new and existing technologies. It should enable the design of products that can dynamically handle different kinds of traffic and applications. Performance - Network processors should be able to rapidly scale their performance capabilities to support ever increasing bandwidth requirements. They should be able to track and support thousands of simultaneous connections. Management - Performing management tasks such as identification, classification and accounting of traffic.