Global switch resource manager

A network device includes an input circuit configured to receive a plurality of data streams. An output circuit is configured to transmit the plurality of data streams. A forwarding engine includes a plurality of different types of resources associated with transmission of the plurality of data streams and is configured to transfer data streams from the input circuit to the output circuit according to the plurality of different types of resources. A resource manager is configured to determine performance requirements for each of the plurality of data streams, determine whether the performance requirements for each of the plurality of data streams can be accepted, store data entries corresponding to the performance requirements in response to a determination that the performance requirements can be accepted, and program, for each of the plurality of data streams, the plurality of different types of resources based on the data entries.