Method and system for a network node for attachment to switch fabrics

An apparatus comprising:

• a classification element to label packets received from a network with information identifying an associated flow and queue;
• a mapping element coupled to the classification element to place the packets into one of a plurality of queues based on the packet's label identifiers;
• a scheduler coupled to the mapping element to schedule the packets in the queues for transmission;
• and
• an encapsulation element coupled to the scheduler to encapsulate the scheduled packets into uniform size frames before the packets are transmitted through a switch fabric to a next destination,
• wherein the classification element is coupled to the mapping element, the scheduler, and the encapsulation element via a switch for coupling to a switch fabric,
• wherein the classification element, the mapping element, the scheduler, and the encapsulation element are disposed within a single network node.

A system comprising:

• an access unit to provide access to communications from a network;
• a switch coupled to the access unit to receive and transmit packets;
• a classification element coupled to the switch to label packets received from the network with information identifying an associated flow and queue;
• a mapping element coupled to the classification element via the switch to place the packets into one of a plurality of queues based on the label identifiers;
• a scheduler coupled to the mapping element to schedule the packets in the queues for transmission to a next destination;
• an encapsulation element coupled to the scheduler to encapsulate the scheduled packets into uniform size frames;
• and
• a switch fabric coupled to the switch through which scheduled encapsulated packets are transmitted to the next destination, wherein the classification element, the mapping element, the scheduler, and the encapsulation element are disposed within a single network node.