Method and system for network switch element

A process for receiving and transmitting network packets in a switch element having a plurality of megaports, each megaport having a plurality of operational ports and a shared logic module, the process comprising:

• (a) receiving a packet at a receive segment of an operational port of one of the plurality of megaports;
• (b) generating a request to fetch the received packet from the receive segment;
• (c) sending a copy of the request to a transmit segment of the first operational port;
• wherein the request includes information regarding a location where the packet is stored at the receive segment and identity of the operational port that received the packet;
• (d) adding a switch routing header (SRH) to the packet before sending the packet to the transmit segment of the operational port;
• wherein the SRH identifies the operational port that received the packet and the location where the packet is stored;
• (e) comparing the SRH in the packet with information provided in the request;
• and
• (f) placing the packet on a correct transmission path for temporary storage at the transmit segment, before the packet is transmitted to a proper destination.

A process for receiving and transmitting network packets in a switch element having a plurality of megaports, each megaport having a plurality of operational ports and a shared logic module, the process comprising:

• (a) receiving a packet at a receive buffer of a operational port of one of the plurality of megaports;
• (b) generating a packet tag with information related to the packet including a location of the packet in the receive buffer;
• (c) storing the packet tag in a tag buffer of the operational port;
• and
• (d) determining whether or not to forward the tag based on a combined lane width and speed at which the operational port is operating, a lane width and speed at which a destination operational port is operating and an indication as to a percent data received at operational port.