Performing rate limiting within a network

A network interface comprising:

• a memory having stored therein information regarding a set of virtual networks into which a network, coupled to a first networking device with which the network interface is associated, and has been logically divided and that can be used by the first networking device to transport packets through the network, wherein each virtual network of the set of virtual networks comprises a loop-free switching path, reverse path learning network and wherein each virtual network of the set of virtual networks provides a path through the network between the first networking device and a second networking device coupled to the network thereby collectively providing a plurality of paths through the network between the first networking device and the second networking device;
• a communication manager responsible for sending and receiving communications on behalf of the first networking device;
• and
• a path selection manager, coupled to the communication manager, operable to perform a method for performing rate limiting in the network, wherein the method comprises:
• maintaining, within the memory, the information regarding the set of virtual networks;
• receiving one or more packets associated with a flow sent by a source networking component coupled to the network at a particular flow rate;
• forwarding the one or more packets associated with the flow to the second networking device via a particular path of the plurality of paths;
• determining a congestion metric for the particular path;
• determining, based at least partially upon the congestion metric for the particular path, whether the particular path has reached a congestion threshold;
• and
• in response to a determination that the particular path has reached the congestion threshold, instructing the source networking component to reduce the particular flow rate at which the source component is sending packets associated with the flow.