A distributed router able to reduce occurrence of ping-pong of data and
information packets within the architecture of the distributed router
constructed with a main processor, a plurality of line connection units
and a switching unit, is disclosed. The main processor manages a routing
table, updates the routing table, and broadcasts the changes in routing
information that are received. The switching unit switches packets either
to the main processor or to the respective line connection units. A
plurality of forwarding tables are positioned in different corresponding
ones of the plurality of line connection units, to copy, store and manage
a part of the routing table. A plurality of forwarding processors are
positioned in different corresponding ones of the plurality of line
connection units, to transmit each packet to an output port, to determine
whether the output port of a packet received from the switching unit is
connected to either an external router or the switching unit, and to
transmit each packet to the external router when the output port is
connected to the external router, and discard any packet when the output
port is connected to the switching unit.