Cut-through switching in a network device

1 . A network device for processing packets, the network device comprising:

an ingress module for performing switching functions on an incoming packet;

a memory management unit for storing packets; and

an egress module for transmitting the incoming packet to an egress port;

wherein the memory management unit is configured to store initial cells of the incoming packet in a memory, resolve whether a cut through process can be enabled and forward the initial cells to the egress port before a final cell of the incoming packet is stored in the memory, when the cut through process is enabled.

2 . The network device according to claim 1 , wherein the memory management unit is configured to check whether an ingress port speed for an ingress port is greater than or equal to an egress port speed of the egress port, and enable the cut through process when the ingress speed is greater than or equal to the egress speed.

3 . The network device according to claim 2 , wherein the memory management unit is configured to check speeds of each destination port for multicast packets and enable the cut through process when each of those speeds is less than the ingress speed.

4 . The network device according to claim 1 , wherein the memory management unit is configured to determine whether the incoming packet is a large size packet and enable the cut through process when the incoming packet is the large size packet.

5 . The network device according to claim 1 , wherein the memory management unit is configured to await a receipt of a predetermined number of cells of the incoming packet before forwarding the cells to the egress port.

6 . The network device according to claim 5 , wherein the memory management unit is configured to set the predetermined number of cells based on a latency factor of the egress port.

7 . The network device according to claim 1 , wherein the memory management unit is configured to await a receipt of a number of cells of the incoming packet before forwarding the cells to the egress port, where the number of cells is set to insure that a buffer of the egress port is not over-run.

8 . A method for processing packets in a network device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving cells of an incoming packet;

determining an egress port for the incoming packet;

storing initial cells of the cells of the incoming packet in a memory;

resolving whether a cut through process can be enabled; and

forwarding the initial cells to the egress port before a final cell of the incoming packet is stored in the memory, when the cut through process is enabled.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the step of resolving comprises checking whether an ingress port speed for an ingress port is greater than or equal to an egress port speed of the egress port, and enabling the cut through process when the ingress speed is greater than or equal to the egress speed.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the checking step further comprises checking speeds of each destination port for multicast packets and enabling the cut through process when each of those speeds is less than the ingress speed.

11 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the step of resolving comprises determining whether the incoming packet is a large size packet and enabling the cut through process when the incoming packet is the large size packet.

12 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising, after the resolving step, awaiting a receipt of a predetermined number of cells of the incoming packet before performing the forwarding step.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising setting the predetermined number of cells based on a latency factor of the egress port.

14 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising, after the resolving step, awaiting a receipt of a number of cells of the incoming packet before performing the forwarding step, where the number of cells is set to insure that a buffer of the egress port is not over-run.

15 . An apparatus for processing packets in a network device, the apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving cells of an incoming packet;

determining means for determining an egress port for the incoming packet;

storing means for storing initial cells of the cells of the incoming packet in a memory;

resolving means for resolving whether a cut through process can be enabled; and

forwarding means for forwarding the initial cells to the egress port before a final cell of the incoming packet is stored in the memory, when the cut through process is enabled.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the resolving means comprises checking means for checking whether an ingress port speed for an ingress port is greater than or equal to an egress port speed of the egress port, and enabling means for enabling the cut through process when the ingress speed is greater than or equal to the egress speed.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the checking means further comprises second checking means for checking speeds of each destination port for multicast packets and the enabling means is configured to enable the cut through process when each of those speeds is less than the ingress speed.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the resolving means comprises size determining means for determining whether the incoming packet is a large size packet and enabling means for enabling the cut through process when the incoming packet is the large size packet.

19 . The apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising awaiting means for awaiting a receipt of a predetermined number of cells of the incoming packet and the forwarding means is configured to wait until the predetermined number of cells is received before forwarding the cells to the egress port.

20 . The apparatus according to claim 19 , further comprising means for setting the predetermined number of cells based on a latency factor of the egress port.