Timeouts on accessing a shared resource

A computer-implemented method of generating timeout errors based on shared register access by at least two processors comprising a portion of a network switch, comprising:

• starting a processor access timer of the network switch responsive to generation of an access request by a first processor of the network switch;
• transmitting the generated first processor access request to a shared storage component comprising a portion of the network switch including a shared register and able to communicate with both the first processor and another processor of the network switch, wherein the shared storage component arbitrates read access to the shared register between the first processor and the other processor;
• and
• generating a timeout error responsive to the processor access timer exceeding a processor predetermined timeout threshold value based on the time required for an access request to be handled by the shared register.