Method and apparatus for processing packets in a network device

A method for processing packets in a network device, the method comprising:

• receiving, at the network device, a packet from a network;
• storing, with the network device, at least a payload of the packet in one or more memories of the network device;
• generating, with the network device, a first packet descriptor corresponding to the packet, the first packet descriptor including information to be used by the network device for processing of the packet;
• processing, with a packet processor of the network device, the packet based on the first packet descriptor, the processing including at least i) determining at least one egress port via which to transmit the packet from the network device, ii) modifying a header of the packet to generate a modified header of the packet and iii) storing the modified header of the packet in the one or more memories of the network device;
• after processing the packet based on the first packet descriptor, generating, with the packet processor, a second packet descriptor to include linking information that links the at least the payload of the packet stored in the one or more memories and the modified header of the packet stored in the one or more memories;
• transferring, with the packet processor, the second packet descriptor to the at least one egress port determined based on the first packet descriptor;
• retrieving, based on the linking information in the second packet descriptor, the at least the payload of the packet and the modified header of the packet from the one or more memories,
• combining the at least the payload of the packet and the modified header of the packet to generate a transmit packet, and
• transmitting the transmit packet from the network device via the at least one egress port.