Methods, systems, and computer program products for processing a packet with layered headers using a data structure that positionally relates the layered headers

摘要

A first header of a packet is processed to obtain a first protocol. The first protocol is used as a key to read a record from a data structure in which the first protocol is associated with an offset in a second header of the packet. The second header of the packet is processed based on the offset in the second header to obtain a second protocol. By positionally relating the position of the protocol field in the second header of the packet with an offset stored in a data structure, if packet sizes and/or layouts should change, then the offset information in the data structure may be updated without the need to redesign and/or reconfigure hardware and/or software in a packet processor.