A method and apparatus for signaling virtual channel support in communication networks. A node receives a data packet from another node to examine whether the other node commonly supports one or more virtual channels of a given type on a point-to-point communication link between the nodes, and the node signaling common support for one or more virtual channels of a given type, based on the content in the received data packet that indicates whether the other node transmitting the data packet has adequate queue resources to support one or more virtual channels of a given type, and based on whether the node has adequate queue resources to support the one or more virtual channels of a given type.