A method and system for transmitting frames using a fibre channel switch
is provided. The method includes, determining a frame's priority based on
a hop count for the frame; placing a frame in a priority queue, where the
priority queue is dedicated to frames having similar priorities;
selecting a frame for transmission based on the frame's priority, if
credit is available, where a frame with a higher priority is sent before
a frame with a lower priority; and selecting a frame with a lower
priority if enough higher priority frames have been sent. The system
includes a switch with at least two priority queues for placing frames
with different priorities; a counter that keeps track of frames that are
transmitted from the two priority queues; and a credit control module
that determines if credit is available before sending a particular frame.