Description: This action attribute is used to specify whether a packet should dropped, switched (i.e., not dropped) or whether the decision to drop the packet should be deferred.

The value 'drop(1)', when specified, will cause the packet being evaluated to be dropped. A value of 'dontDrop(2)' indicates that this packet should not be dropped.

A value of 'deferredPass(3)' indicates that no explicit assertion, related to whether or not the packet should be discarded, is being made. This option, when available, can be used to allow actions associated with lower precedence policies to determine whether a packet should be dropped or not. A 'drop(1)' or 'dontDrop(2)' in a lower precedence action is given precedence over a higher precedence 'deferredPass(3)'. Support for this enumeration is implementation dependent.

Prior to discarding a packet, other actions that have been specified should be performed if they make protocol sense. For example, requests for traffic mirroring (if such an action is supported by a device) should be honored. However, updating protocol header values will typically not be necessary.