A server includes a plurality of nodes that are connected by a network that includes an on-chip network or an inter-chip network that connects the nodes. The server also includes a controller to configure the network based on relative priorities of workloads that are executing on the nodes. Configuring the network can include allocating buffers to virtual channels supported by the network based on the relative priorities of the workloads associated with the virtual channels, configuring routing tables that route the packets over the network based on the relative priorities of the workloads that generate the packets, or modifying arbitration weights to favor granting access to the virtual channels to packets generated by higher priority workloads.