System and method for speculatively issuing memory requests while maintaining a specified packet order

摘要

The present invention is a system and method for forwarding packets in order. A first packet may be received for forwarding. Subsequently, a second packet may be received for forwarding. A first memory request corresponding to the first packet is sent. A second memory request corresponding to the second packet may be sent prior to receiving a first memory reply corresponding to the first memory request. The first packet is forwarded prior to forwarding the second packet. In this novel manner, bandwidth in a network apparatus may be utilized with greater efficiency while maintaining packet ordering.