Adjustable receive queue for processing packets in a network device

A method, comprising:

• sizing a buffer for receiving packets in a network device to a first size during a first operating mode of the network device, wherein the network device receives the packets from at least two separate interfaces including a bus interface and a network interface and the buffer is a shared buffer area for exchanging packets between the two interfaces;
• during a second operating mode of the network device, wherein packets are processed by the network device more slowly than in the first operating mode, expanding the buffer to a second size, larger than the first size using a previously reserved area of a memory so that the buffer includes the shared buffer area and the reserved area of the memory;
• informing an interface controller in the network device of the second size of the buffer;
• receiving packets in the network device and storing the packets in the buffer using the second size during the second operating mode;
• detecting that the second operating mode has been completed, and switching from the second operating mode to the first operating mode;
• and
• using only the shared buffer area for received packets after the switching to the first operating mode but maintaining pointers for valid data in the reserved area during a transition period when switching from the second operating mode to the first operating mode.