Within a networking device, packet portions from multiple PDRSDs (Packet Data Receiving and Splitting Devices) are loaded into a single memory, so that the packet portions can later be processed by a processing device. Rather than the PDRSDs managing and handling the storing of packet portions into the memory, a packet engine is provided. The PDRSDs use a PPI (Packet Portion Identifier) Addressing Mode (PAM) in communicating with the packet engine and in instructing the packet engine to store packet portions. A PDRSD requests a PPI from the packet engine in a PPI allocation request, and is allocated a PPI by the packet engine in a PPI allocation response, and then tags the packet portion to be written with the PPI and sends the packet portion and the PPI to the packet engine.