A distributed computing system, such as may be used to implement an electronic trading system, controls inbound message flow rates. Limiting a per-client or per-connection inbound message rate also helps ensure fair provisioning of computing resources, so that a single client's excessive use of resources cannot overwhelm the system to such an extent that it prevents other clients from interacting with the distributed system. It is also desirable to have system-wide control of the overall inbound message rate across all client connections. Such system-wide control ensures that the distributed system as a whole can maintain the required levels of service, including offering a predictable level of access for all clients.