Abstract: A network device routes data packets by storing the packets in a switching memory as a function of a destination address of the packet. The switching memory comprises switching memory queues that are mapped to ports of the device. A header of a received packet is examined to determine the network destination address to which it is to be routed, and a destination queue is assigned to the packet based on the destination address. Thereafter, the packet is divided into cells, and the cells are written to contiguous locations in the destination queue.

Abstract: A network device routes data packets by storing the packets in a switching memory as a function of a destination address of the packet. The switching memory comprises switching memory queues that are mapped to ports of the device. A header of a received packet is examined to determine the network destination address to which it is to be routed, and a destination queue is assigned to the packet based on the destination address. Thereafter, the packet is divided into cells, and the cells are written to contiguous locations in the destination queue.

Abstract: A method for routing and switching data packets from one or more incoming links to one or more outgoing links of a router. The method comprises receiving a data packet from the incoming link, assigning at least one outgoing link to the data packet based on the destination address of the data packet, and after the assigning operation, storing the data packet in a switching memory based on the assigned outgoing link. The data packet extracted from the switching memory, and transmitted along the assigned outgoing link. The router may include a network processing unit having one or more systolic array pipelines for performing the assigning operation.

Abstract: Methods of routing and switching a packet from an incoming link to an outgoing link of a router. In one example, the method includes assigning a destination queue to the packet, determining if the router is implemented in a scaled-down configuration, remapping the destination queue to one or more remapped destination queues, and storing the packet in the one or more remapped destination queues. In one embodiment, the method may also include requesting a packet from the destination queue, translating the request to the remapped destination queue, and transmitting the packet from the remapped destination queue.

Abstract: A router and method therefore for routing and switching a packet from an incoming link to an outgoing link. The router may include a plurality of network processing units, a plurality of switching engines, and a plurality of connections between the plurality of network processing units and the plurality of switching engines defining a rotational symmetric topology. The router may also include a means for connecting the plurality of network processing units to the plurality of switching engines, as well as means for connecting the plurality of switching engines to the plurality of line card units. In one example, the plurality of line card units is connected with the plurality of switching engines in a full mesh topology.

Abstract: A method for routing and switching data packets from one or more incoming links to one or more outgoing links of a router. The method comprises receiving a data packet from the incoming link, assigning at least one outgoing link to the data packet based on the destination address of the data packet, and after the assigning operation, storing the data packet in a switching memory based on the assigned outgoing link. The data packet extracted from the switching memory, and transmitted along the assigned outgoing link. The router may include a network processing unit having one or more systolic array pipelines for performing the assigning operation.