A communication system includes a packet switch that routes data packets between endpoint devices in the communication system through virtual channels. The packet switch includes output ports each having a link bandwidth for outputting data packets. Each virtual channel is associated with an output port and is allocated a portion of the link bandwidth of the output port. The packet switch receives a data packet identifying a virtual channel at an input port, selects another virtual channel associated with the input port, routes the data packet through the packet switch, and outputs the data packet from the packet switch by using the selected virtual channel. Additionally, the packet switch may select a reliable transmission protocol, a continuous transmission protocol, or a pseudo-continuous transmission protocol for outputting the data packet from the packet switch. In some embodiments, the packet switch modifies the data packet to indicate the selected virtual channel.