Network device and method for packet processing

A network device, comprising:

• a packet processing accelerator configured to (i) receive packets from a network, (ii) define for ones of the packets a data unit corresponding to the packet, the data unit being defined at least by metadata related to the packet, and (iii) perform a first set of packet processing operations on the data unit;
• a central processing unit (CPU) configured to perform a second set of packet processing operations on the data unit, the second set of packet processing operations being different from the first set of packet processing operations and being defined by programmable code executed in the CPU;
• and
• a buffer defined in a memory and configured to pass data units from the packet processing accelerator to the CPU, and vice versa, the buffer having a fixed width and configured to store data units in one or more lines of the buffer, wherein dummy data units fill a space in a buffer line that is not occupied by a data unit when the data unit does not fill a complete buffer line, the dummy data units including an indication that the space occupied by the dummy data units is an empty space,
• wherein the packet processing accelerator and the CPU respectively are configured to:
• when writing a data unit to the buffer, the data unit having a size that is greater than an amount of available space in a single buffer line:
• write a first portion of the data unit in the single buffer line;
• and
• write a second portion of the data unit in at least one other buffer line that is different than the single buffer line.