US Patent 11381512 Priority-based flow control messaging for port extender

A port extender provides individual flow control for ports multiplexed from a network device. The port extender is configured to multiplex a network device port across the front panel ports on the port extender. The port extender also determines that passing traffic through one of the front panel ports is degraded due to network congestion, and generates a flow control message identifying the front panel port. The port extender sends the flow control message via the network device port to the network device. The flow control message causes the network device coupled to the network device port to discontinue sending data for transmission from the degraded port.