Abstract: Methods and systems for using counters to monitor port buffers are described. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving data packets into a system port buffer having different queues. Also, counters are associated with the queues. Further, the method includes scanning the counters, in which the counters count the number of dropped data packets associated with an individual queue of the different queues. Moreover, the method includes determining if the number of dropped data packets for an individual queue is greater than a predetermined number. If the number of dropped data packets is greater than the predetermined number, then a message is generated.