Abstract: Method, system and program product are provided for packet flow control for a switching node of a data transfer network. The method includes actively managing space allocations in a central queue of a switching node allotted to the ports of the switching node based on the amount of unused space currently available in the central queue. In a further aspect, the method includes separately tracking unallocated space and vacated allocated space, which had been used to buffer packets received by the ports but were vacated since a previous management update due to a packet being removed from the central queue. Each port is offered vacated space that is currently allocated to that port and a quantity of the currently unallocated space in the central queue to distribute to one or more virtual lanes of the port.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for processing data packets at a data-transfer network node. The method and system include determining a length of time that a packet has been buffered at the node by associating a timer with each data packet received and buffered in the node's central queue. The central queue subsequently reads the associated timer to determine a length of time that a data packet has been buffered prior to the data packet being transmitted by the node. If a packet has been buffered too long, then the queue discards the packet. Otherwise, the queue permits transmission of the packet. The amount of circuitry in the switching node's central queue is reduced by locating the packet timers in timer logic external to the queue.

Abstract: Received portion of message is stored persistently and transmitted without awaiting receipt of another portion of the message and without generating a new message. The storing and transmitting can occur substantially simultaneously and be performed by one or more hardware elements. Originator of the message can choose whether to indicate indication of broadcasting of the message. First hardware element can determine local acknowledgement for message and second hardware element can determine determinative signal of the local acknowledgement and at least one of: one or more collected intended recipient acknowledgements for the message; and one or more collected determinative signals of intended recipient acknowledgements for the message.