Memory organization in a switching device

A network device, comprising:

• a plurality of input ports for receiving variable length data units;
• a memory to temporarily store the variable length data units;
• a buffer;
• a data handler to:
• receive a first variable length data unit of the variable length data units,
• identify a key for the first variable length data unit,
• store the key in an entry in the buffer, the entry being associated with the first variable length data unit,
• determine a starting address in the memory where a first portion of the first variable length data unit is to be stored,
• store the starting address in the entry in the buffer associated with the first variable length data unit,
• store a next portion of the first variable length data unit in the memory, the location of the next portion being identified by an offset, and
• store the offset in the entry in the buffer associated with the first variable length data unit;
• and
• a route lookup engine to:
• perform a lookup based on the key, and
• identify an output port of the network device for the first variable length data unit based on the lookup.

A method of routing a variable length data unit through a network device located on a network, comprising:

• receiving, at a plurality of ports of the network device, variable length data units;
• temporarily storing, at a memory of the network device, the variable length data units;
• receiving, at a data handler, a first variable length data unit of the variable length data units,
• identifying, by the data handler, a key for the first variable length data unit,
• storing, by the data handler, the key in an entry in a buffer, the entry being associated with the first variable length data unit,
• determining, by the data handler, a starting address in the memory where a first portion of the first variable length data unit is to be stored,
• storing, by the data handler, the starting address in the entry in the buffer associated with the first variable length data unit,
• storing, by the data handler, a next portion of the first variable length data unit in the memory, the location of the next portion being identified by an offset, and
• storing, by the data handler, the offset in the entry in the buffer associated with the first variable length data unit;
• and
• performing, by a route lookup engine, a lookup based on the key, and
• identifying, by the route lookup engine, an output port of the network device for the first variable length data unit based on the lookup.