A
network switch in a
packet switched network includes a plurality of
network switch ports, each configured for sending and receiving data packets between a medium interface and the
network switch. The network switch port includes an IEEE 802.3 compliant transmit state
machine and receive state
machine configured for transmitting and receiving
network data to and from a medium interface, such as a reduced medium independent interface, respectively. The network switch port also includes a
memory management unit configured for selectively transferring the
network data between the transmit and receive state machines and a
random access transmit buffer and a
random access receive buffer, respectively. The
memory management unit transfers the
network data between the transmit and receive state machines and the respective buffers based on prescribed
interface protocol signals between the
memory management unit and the transmit and receive state machines. Hence, the
memory management unit and the transmit and receive state machines transfer data according to a prescribed
interface protocol, where a request-based protocol enables data transfers to be performed independent of different
clock domains encountered within the network switch port.