Egress packet processing using a modified packet header separate from a stored payload

A network device for processing packets in a communication network, comprising:

• a receive processor configured to store, in a packet memory, at least a payload of a packet received from the communication network;
• a packet processor configured to process the packet, the packet processor being configured to at least i) modify one or more fields of a header of the packet to generate a modified header of the packet, ii) determine whether the packet is to be discarded by the network device based at least in part on the modified header of the packet, iii) in response to the packet processor determining, based at least in part on the modified header of the packet, that the packet is not to be discarded by the network device, perform egress classification of the packet based at least in part on the modified header of the packet, and iv) when the packet processor determines the packet is not to be discarded, store the modified header of the packet in the packet memory;
• and
• a transmit processor configured to transmit the packet in accordance with the egress classification of the packet, the transmit processor being configured to, in response to a decision, made by the network device, that the packet is to be transmitted from the network device, i) generate a transmit packet from the at least the payload of the packet retrieved from the packet memory and the modified header of the packet retrieved from the packet memory and ii) cause the transmit packet to be transmitted to a destination in the communication network.