Priority-based flow control messaging for port extender

An apparatus comprising:

• a network device port configured to communicate with a network device;
• a plurality of ports configured to transmit and receive data from one or more networks;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• multiplex the network device port across the plurality of ports;
• determine that an input buffer for the network device port is overloaded;
• generate a priority-based flow control (PFC) frame identifying that the network device port is congested;
• and
• send the PFC frame via the network device port, wherein the PFC frame causes a network device coupled to the network device port to discontinue sending data for transmission from the plurality of ports.

One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with software comprising computer executable instructions and when the software is executed operable to cause a processor to:

• configure a port extender to multiplex a network device port across a plurality of ports on the port extender;
• determine that an input buffer for the network device port is overloaded;
• generate a priority-based flow control (PFC) frame identifying that the network device port is congested;
• and
• send the PFC frame via the network device port, wherein the PFC frame causes the network device coupled to the network device port to discontinue sending data for transmission from the plurality of ports on the port extender.