According to one embodiment, methods and systems may be configured to support client-to-network, network-to-client, and network-to-network flows in a network element including multiple plug-in units. Such support may include policing and shaping flows as aggregates across plug-in units, combining outputs of two upstream traffic managers to network ports on two plug-in units, combining network flows that ingress two plug-in units, and shaping traffic to client ports.