Look up table based match action processor for data packets

A multi-pass packet processing method comprising:

• storing received data packets in a packet buffer;
• determining, by a packet sub-engine that is coupled to the packet buffer, which of a plurality of look up tables is to be searched for a matching entry that matches a received data packet, each look up table corresponding to a different type of packet handling action and comprising a plurality of entries, each of said entries including a match field and a corresponding collection of one or more packet handling actions specifying how data packets that match the match field are to be handled;
• searching, by the packet sub-engine, the determined look up table for a matching entry;
• processing, by the packet sub-engine, the received data packet according to the collection of actions in the matching entry;
• determining, by the packet sub-engine, whether a further look up table of the plurality of look up tables is to be searched for a further matching entry;
• and
• providing the processed data packet as an output of the packet sub-engine where a further look up table is not to be searched, and searching the further look up table by the packet sub-engine for a further matching entry and further processing the processed packet by the packet sub-engine according to the collection of actions in the further matching entry where a further look up table is to be searched for a matching entry;
• distributing the received data packets between the packet sub-engine and a further packet sub-engine;
• controlling a rate at which the received data packets are distributed to the packet sub-engine and the further packet sub-engine,
• wherein the controlling comprises controlling the rate based on an application associated with the received data packets, wherein a maximum packet rate for the application is determined based on a length of a match action sequence associated with the application.