Router path selection and creation in a single clock cycle

Abstract

Systems, devices, and techniques for routing packets are described. A described router includes ingress ports to receive packets; egress ports; ingress switch fabric coupled with the ingress ports; egress switch fabric coupled with the egress ports; floating buffers coupled between the ingress switch fabric and the egress switch fabric; and a controller. The controller can be configured to receive a packet via an ingress port, determine an egress port based on the packet's destination address, acquire a floating buffer, send to the egress port a buffer identifier corresponding to the acquired floating buffer, operate the ingress switch fabric to establish a first pathway between the acquired floating buffer and the ingress port to write the packet to the buffer, and operate the egress switch fabric to establish a second pathway between the acquired floating buffer and the egress port to write from the buffer to the egress port.