Network switch with hybrid architecture

A device comprising:

• an input port comprising:
• an input buffer;
• and
• an input queue connected to the input buffer;
• and
• an output port comprising:
• an output buffer connected to the input buffer;
• and
• an output queue connected to the output buffer and to the input queue, the output queue configured to control receiving of packets in the output buffer from the input buffer;
• wherein the input queue is configured to:
• send a push request for a first packet of a packet flow to the output queue, the packet flow being forwarded from the input port to the output port;
• transfer the first packet from the input buffer to the output buffer, wherein the first packet is stored in the output buffer before the output queue grants the push request;
• send a pull request for a second packet of the packet flow to the output queue;
• and
• transfer the second packet from the input buffer to the output buffer after the output queue grants the pull request.

A method comprising:

• determining whether a packet is eligible for packet pushing;
• sending a push request from an input queue to an output queue in response to the packet being eligible for packet pushing, the push request comprising a description of the packet;
• transferring the packet from an input buffer to an output buffer in parallel with the sending of the push request, wherein the packet is stored in the output buffer before the push request is granted;
• granting the push request at the output queue based on the description of the packet;
• reading the packet from the output buffer in response to the push request being granted;
• and
• sending a push grant from the output queue to the input queue in parallel with the reading the packet from the output buffer.