A method comprising: configuring a plurality of transmit queues, each of the transmit queues having different packet service classifications associated therewith, the packet service classifications specifying a relative priority for packets stored within each respective queue, at least one of the transmit queues having a packet service classification assigned to network control packets being assigned a highest priority relative to the other transmit queues; classifying packets according to the different packet service classifications, wherein a packet to be transmitted is stored in one of the transmit queues based on the packet service classifications, and wherein network control packets are stored in the queue associated with network control packets; and scheduling packets for transmission from each of the transmit queues, wherein packets are scheduled for transmission according to the packet service classifications and wherein network control packets are prioritized for transmission above all other packet service classifications.