Network routing apparatus

Abstract

A network routing apparatus in which packet forwarding units for performing a packet forwarding process are arranged in parallel to one another, a packet distribution unit for distributing packets to the packet forwarding units arranged in parallel to one another, a packet rearrangement unit for rearranging outputs of the packet forwarding units are provided in the network routing apparatus, and packet retrieving units for retrieving packet headers in the packet forwarding units are further arranged in parallel to one another.

1 . A network routing apparatus for determining a routing address of a packet in a network on the basis of header information of said packet and routing said packet to said routing address, comprising: 
 a plurality of packet forwarding units for performing a process of forwarding input packets;    a packet distribution unit for distributing input packets supplied from an interface of a router into said packet forwarding units in order or into empty ones of said packet forwarding units which do not now perform processing; and    a packet rearrangement unit for performing rearrangement of packets in inputting order of the packets which are subjected to said packet forwarding process by said packet forwarding units.    
   
   
       2 - 12 . (canceled)