Network processor architecture

A system to manage congestion of a plurality of ports, comprising:

• a first network processor including a traffic processor;
• a second network processor for informing the first network processor whether an egress port is available, wherein the traffic processor does not schedule a flow for forwarding from the egress port if the first network processor has been informed that the egress port is not available.

A method for managing congestion of a plurality of ports, comprising:

• a second network processor informing a first network processor whether an egress port is available, wherein the first network processor does not schedule a flow for forwarding from the egress port if the first network processor has been informed that the egress port is not available.

153-212. (canceled)