Abstract: An apparatus and method for dynamic assignment of classes of traffic to a priority queue. Bandwidth consumption by one or more types of packet traffic received in the packet forwarding device is monitored to determine whether the bandwidth consumption exceeds a threshold. If the bandwidth consumption exceeds the threshold, assignment of at least one type of packet traffic of the one or more types of packet traffic is changed from a queue having a first priority to a queue having a second priority.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically configuring a network switch having external network data ports, a processor, and memory. Network data is monitored on the external network data port. Information about the network data traffic is compared to one or more threshold conditions. The network switch is automatically configured if the network data meets one of the threshold conditions. The monitor and configuration functions can be performed by software running on the processor which has been downloaded from an external network maintenance station through a maintenance data port. Information about the network data traffic can be uploaded to the external network maintenance station through a maintenance data port.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically configuring a network switch having external network data ports, a processor, memory, data bus, and coprocessor. Network data is monitored on the external network data port. Information about the network data traffic is compared to one or more threshold conditions. The network switch is automatically configured by the coprocessor if the network data meets one of the threshold conditions. The monitor and configuration functions can be performed by software running on the coprocessor which has been downloaded from an external network maintenance station through a maintenance data port. Information about the network data traffic can be uploaded to the external network maintenance station through a maintenance data port.