Systems and methods for network packet translation

A network device, comprising:

• an ingress pipeline;
• an egress pipeline;
• a packet translation module, comprising:
• a packet translation diverter;
• a packet translation agent;
• a packet translation queue;
• a packet translation ruleset;
• a processor, executing the packet translation diverter, performs a method for modifying packet data of a packet, wherein the method comprises:
• receiving, at the ingress pipeline, the packet;
• performing a lookup, in the packet translation ruleset, to compare the packet data to rule criteria of a rule in the packet translation ruleset, the rule associated with a rule action;
• making a first determination that at least a portion of the packet data matches the rule criteria;
• and
• based on the first determination:
• adding a packet translation tag to the packet, wherein the packet translation tag added to the packet comprises the rule action associated with the matching rule associated with the matching rule criteria, wherein the rule action describes a modification to perform on the packet;
• wherein the processor, executing the packet translation agent, performs the method for modifying the packet data of the packet, wherein the method further comprises:
• creating a copy of the packet by copying the packet translation tag comprising the rule action and at least a second portion of the packet data to obtain the copied packet;
• modifying the copied packet according to the modification as described in the rule action included in the packet translation tag of the copied packet to obtain a modified copied packet;
• and
• forwarding the modified copied packet to the egress pipeline.