Apparatus and method for switching data packets

摘要

A method and apparatus ( 1 ) is disclosed for switching data packets. A data packet is received from an input interface device ( 7 ) at one of a plurality of initial input ports ( 6 ). The data packet is divided into plural smaller data fragments. Each data fragment is passed to a respective one of a plurality of slices of an input port ( 3 ) of a core switch ( 2 ). The data fragments are switched using the core switch ( 2 ) so as to pass each data fragment to a selected respective one of a plurality of slices of an output port ( 3 ) of the core switch ( 2 ). The data fragments are then passed to a selected one of a plurality of ultimate output ports ( 5 '). The data fragments are assembled to reform the data packet, and the reformed data packet is transmitted to an output interface device ( 7 ) connected to said selected one of a plurality of ultimate output ports ( 5 ').