Abstract: A network element of a software-defined networking (SDN) system forwards IP packet fragments without reassembly is disclosed. The network element receives an IP packet fragment and determines whether the fragment is the first fragment of an original IP packet. If the fragment is the first fragment, then fields in the first fragment that are associated with open systems interconnection layers (OSI) 4-7 are retrieved and placed in an entry in a fragment information table so that the entry is associated with the original IP packet. If the received fragment is not the first fragment, then a matching entry in the fragment information table is to be identified and the associated OSI layers 4-7 information is retrieved for processing the non-first fragment.

Abstract: A network element of a software-defined networking (SDN) system forwards IP packet fragments without reassembly is disclosed. The network element receives an IP packet fragment and determines whether the fragment is the first fragment of an original IP packet. If the fragment is the first fragment, then fields in the first fragment that are associated with open systems interconnection layers (OSI) 4-7 are retrieved and placed in an entry in a fragment information table so that the entry is associated with the original IP packet. If the received fragment is not the first fragment, then a matching entry in the fragment information table is to be identified and the associated OSI layers 4-7 information is retrieved for processing the non-first fragment.