Two stage parser for a network

A method for processing data in a network device, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving data packets at a plurality of ports by a port interface;
• forwarding data packets to a parser;
• performing a first stage of parsing of the data packets, to determine a first set of attributes for the data packets;
• performing a second stage of parsing of the data packets, using the first set of attributes, to determine a second set of attributes for the data packets;
• forwarding the data to a memory management unit;
• storing the data by the memory management unit in a memory external to the network device;
• retrieving the received data from the memory and modifying the received data, if needed, based on the determined sets of attributes to produce processed data;
• and
• forwarding processed data to an egress port of the plurality of ports.

A network device for processing data, the network device comprising:

• port means for receiving data, where the port means comprises at least one higher speed port means for receiving data from inter-networked devices and a remainder of the port means for receiving data from a data network;
• higher speed port data parsing means for parsing the data received from the inter-networked devices;
• independent parsing means for parsing the data received from the data network;
• memory means for storing the data received from the higher speed port data parsing means and the independent parsing means by a memory management unit in a memory external to the network device and retrieving the stored data;
• modifying means for modifying retrieved, stored data, based on the determined attributes to produce processed data;
• and
• forwarding means for forwarding processed data to an egress port of the port means.