a method for static rate flow control includes receiving a sequence of data packets for transmission over a network , including at least first and second packets having a common destination address on the network , the first and second packets having respective first and second lengths , and transmitting the first packet to the destination address . responsive to transmitting the first packet , an entry is placed in a flow control table , and a timeout period is set for the entry responsive to the first length . the second packet is transmitted only after the timeout period has expired .