Abstract: A system for processing data packets includes memories with cache buffers that store flow tables and a flow index table, and a processor in communication with the memories. When the processor receives a data packet, it determines whether the flow index table includes a flow index table entry corresponding to the data packet. If the flow index table includes the required flow index table entry, the processor fetches cached instructions corresponding to the data packet from the flow index table and processes the data packet using the fetched instructions. If the flow index table does not include a flow index table entry for the data packet, then the processor fetches the instructions from the flow tables and stores these instructions in the cache buffers, thereby caching the instructions in the flow index table.