Patent attributes
Communication apparatus includes multiple interfaces configured to be connected to a packet data network and a memory, coupled to the interfaces and configured as a buffer to contain the data packets received through the ingress interfaces in multiple queues while awaiting transmission to the network via the egress interfaces. Congestion control logic includes a packet discard machine, which is configured to drop a first fraction of the data packets from at least a first queue in the buffer in response to a status of the queues, and a packet marking machine, which is configured to apply a congestion notification to a second fraction of the data packets from at least a second queue in the buffer in response to the status of the queues. Machine control circuitry is coupled to selectively enable and disable at least the packet discard machine.