Minimum latency link layer metaframing and error correction

A network device, comprising:

• a plurality of ports;
• and
• logic configured to:
• receive, via a first port of the plurality of ports, a stream of bits within one or more segments of a metaframe, wherein each segment of the metaframe is separated by a checkpoint, and wherein each checkpoint comprises a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) for validating the segment;
• and
• selectively perform forward error correction (FEC) decoding for the one or more segments of the metaframe, prior to forwarding each respective segment, based on an evaluation of the respective CRC.

A network device, comprising:

• a plurality of ports;
• and
• logic configured to:
• generate a metaframe for transmission using a first port of the plurality of ports;
• upon determining that a current measure of network throughput for the first port is less than a predefined threshold amount of network throughput, insert a checkpoint into the metaframe at a first position, wherein the checkpoint comprises a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) for validating a segment of the metaframe, the segment defined by the first position and a position of a previous CRC within the metaframe;
• and
• transmit the metaframe over one of the plurality of ports.