Patent ID: 8077610

Claim:
A method of forwarding a data packet using different sets of buffers of a network device, the method comprising: writing the data packet to a first set of buffers coupled with a first set of egress ports for the network device before determining whether to forward the data packet through the first set of egress ports based on accessing at least one forwarding database; writing the data packet to a second set of buffers coupled with a second set of egress ports for the network device before determining whether to forward the data packet through the second set of egress ports based on accessing the at least one forwarding database; determining whether to forward the data packet through the first set of egress ports or the second set of egress ports based on accessing the at least one forwarding database; releasing the first set of buffers if it is determined that the data packet is to be forwarded through the second set of egress ports and not to be forwarded through the first set of egress ports; and forwarding the data packet from the second set of buffers through a subset of the second set of egress ports if it is determined that the data packet is to be forwarded through the second set of egress ports.