A controllable mechanism for by-passing Layer 4 (L4) classification is based on the insertion into a set of MAC rules in SA MAC lookup means a set of Layer 4 (L4) Skip Classification Flags. Routing is accomplished by selecting which rule to apply to the packet and reading the state of the corresponding L4 Skip Classification Flag. In response to a first state of said corresponding L4 Skip Classification Flag, performing an L4 classification followed by a routing of the data packet. In response to a second state of said corresponding L4 Skip Classification Flag, reading the state of a Global Classification Flag. In response to a first state of said Global Classification Flag, performing an L4 classification followed by a routing of said data packet. In response to a second state of said Global Classification Flag performing a routing of the data packet. The L4 Skip option change does not use the option change of reading the L4 Skip Classification Flag from the port table, whereas the second embodiment uses this option. The third and fourth embodiments are similar to the first and second embodiments but with the. addition of inserting into a set of Layer 3 (L3) rules in L3 lookup means a set of Layer 4 (L4) Classification Required Flags. The third embodiment does not use the option of reading the L4 Skip Classification Flag from the port table, whereas the fourth embodiment uses this option.