A communication system includes: a control apparatus setting a process rule defining a process content appropriate to a received packet in a forwarding node; and a forwarding node comprising a packet process unit processing a received packet in accordance with the process rule. The forwarding node further includes: a request unit transmitting a process rule setting request to the control apparatus if the received packet is a first packet for which the process rule is not set; and a restriction unit restricting transmission of the setting request for a second packet satisfying a condition obtained from the first packet.