In an apparatus for receiving and forwarding data packets on a network, a network device includes a plurality of ports for coupling to the network and for transmitting packets to devices disposed in or coupled to the network. At least one processor configured to process packets received via the network processes packets by selectively forwarding processed packets to one or more of the ports. A plurality of queues are defined in a memory, each configured to store packets to be transmitted by ports in the plurality of ports. A queue manager is configured to selectively assign a subset of the plurality of queues to a subset of the plurality of ports.