Method and apparatus for performing flow control across multiple network devices

A number of network devices that control the communication of data frames between stations in a network are cascaded together to support a number of network stations. When a first device receives a data frame destined for a port on a second device, the first device transfers the data frame to the second device. The second device stores receive port information transmitted with the data frame and processes the data frame. If the second device identifies a congestion condition associated with processing the data, the second device transmits the receive port information back to the first device. The first device then performs a flow control-related operation on the port identified by the receive port information.