Patent ID: 8611352

Claim:
A method for forwarding packets, comprising: implementing a packet processor having a plurality of packet processing units for processing packets that are compliant with a recognized communication protocol, the plurality of packet processing units not configured to process packets compliant with an unrecognized communication protocol; implementing in the packet processor an adapted processing unit configured to process packets that are compliant with the unrecognized communication protocol; receiving, at a port coupled to the plurality of packet processing units, a packet that is compliant with the unrecognized communication protocol, wherein the received packet includes an unrecognized header; extracting from the unrecognized header, in the adapted processing unit, first destination information that is compliant with the unrecognized communication protocol; generating, using the extracted first destination information, second destination information that is consistent with a protocol supported by at least one of the plurality of processing units for determining an egress interface to which the received packet is to be forwarded; determining, using the second destination information in at least one of the processing units not configured to process packets compliant with the unrecognized communication protocol, the egress interface for the packet; and forwarding the received packet that is compliant with the unrecognized communication protocol to a particular physical egress port associated with the determined egress interface.