Data Flow Through the M10i Router Packet Forwarding Engine

Data flows through the M10i routers Packet Forwarding Engine in the sequence shown in Figure 15. Use of ASICs promotes efficient movement of data packets through the system.

Figure 15: M10i Router Packet Forwarding Engine Components and Data Flow

1. Packets arrive at an incoming networking interface.
2. The networking interface passes the packets to the CFEB, where the integrated ASIC processes the packet headers, divides the packets into 64-byte data cells, and distributes the data cells throughout the memory buffer.
3. The integrated ASIC on the CFEB performs a route lookup for each packet and decides how to forward it.

1. If services are configured for the packet, the integrated ASIC reassembles the packet and passes it to the services interface.
2. The services interface passes the packet to the CFEB, where the integrated ASIC processes the packet, divides the packet into 64-byte cells, and distributes the data cells throughout the memory buffer.
3. The integrated ASIC performs a second route lookup for each packet and decides how to forward it.

4. The integrated ASIC notifies the outbound networking interface.
5. The integrated ASIC reassembles data cells stored in shared memory into data packets as they are ready for transmission and passes them to the outbound networking interface.
6. The outbound networking interface transmits the data packets.