Throttling distributed statistical data retrieval in a network device

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for managing distributed statistical data retrieval in a network device. Periodically, statistical data is gathered by processes on one or more remote cards in a network device and transferred to a central process. The statistical data may comprise, for example, management/historical data including accounting, performance, security and fault logging data (or some portion thereof). In one embodiment, the central process may notify each process as to when gathered statistical data may be reported. This allows the central process to throttle the amount of data sent to the central process in accordance with any existing backlog of data to be processed by the central process.