
294 Appendix B: Packet Switching Mechanisms
The cache table is always in a state of flux, as it is traffic-driven. A cache entry to a prefix
is created only after the first packet to that prefix address space is process-switched. Note
the following characteristics of the route-cache-based forwarding table:
• The cache table is classful. Its prefix length can only be 0, 8, 16, 24, or 32.
• A Class A, B, or C network prefix cannot have a cache prefix length of other than 8,
16, or 24, respectively.
• The length of a prefix in the cache table is equal to the most specific subnet of that
particular prefix’s class network in the IP routing table. The cache prefix ...