A network device for minimizing latency and correcting errors associated
with information transmitted from an external memory device. The network
device includes a management unit for requesting information stored on at
least one external memory device. The network device also includes a
command unit for transmitting a request from the management unit to the
external memory device. The command unit maintain at least one counter
that is associated with current requests and compares the at least one
counter to at least one predefined threshold in order to throttle the
management unit when the at least one counter exceeds the at least one
threshold. The network device further includes means for aligning
information from the at least one external memory device with information
transmitted from the command unit to the management unit and for ensuring
that aligned information is accurate.