The present invention discloses a method for communication among different components, including integrating a Network Forwarding Component (NFC) for forwarding messages and at least one Independent Application Component (IAC) for performing other service processing into one network device; setting at least one cooperation mode in the NFC and each of the at least one IAC; and communicating with each other, by the NFC and the at least one IAC, according to the at least one cooperation mode. The cooperation mode may be any or any combination of a host mode, a mirror mode, a redirection mode and a pass-through mode. According to the present invention, the NFC and the IAC may communicate according to the cooperation mode so as to ensure that the NFC and the IAC can cooperate to provide various service capabilities including message forwarding and other additional service capabilities.