Abstract: A method to be executed within a computing system having a network that couples a processor to a memory controller is described. The method involves receiving a packet and then characterizing the packet as being of a type selected from the group consisting of: i) a debug packet; ii) a system maintenance packet; and, iii) a packet having a destination identifier or connection identifier for which a primary routing table has no entry. The method also involves, because the packet is of the type, using a secondary routing table to identify at least one output port upon which the packet is to be transmitted.