A method for dynamically adjusting a set of one or more connection setup request parameters for a plurality of linecards of a network element, the method comprising: monitoring an occupancy of each of a plurality of connection setup request queues, wherein each of the plurality of connection setup request queues is associated with one of the plurality of linecards, and wherein each of the plurality of connection setup request queues comprises a plurality of connection setup request packets; monitoring a count of dropped connection setup request packets corresponding to each of the plurality of connection setup request queues; for each of the plurality of connection setup request queues, performing the following: dynamically adjusting the set of one or more connection setup request parameters comprising a connection setup request rate limit value and a connection setup request burst value for a particular linecard of the plurality of linecards, associated with a particular connection setup request queue of the plurality of connection setup request queues, based on the occupancy of the particular connection setup request queue and based on the monitored count of dropped connection setup request packets corresponding to the particular connection setup request queue and attributable to the particular linecard, and programming the adjusted connection setup request rate limit value and the adjusted connection setup request burst value to the particular linecard associated with the particular connection setup request queue. monitoring an occupancy of each of a plurality of connection setup request queues, wherein each of the plurality of connection setup request queues is associated with one of the plurality of linecards, and wherein each of the plurality of connection setup request queues comprises a plurality of connection setup request packets; monitoring a count of dropped connection setup request packets corresponding to each of the plurality of connection setup request queues; for each of the plurality of connection setup request queues, performing the following: dynamically adjusting the set of one or more connection setup request parameters comprising a connection setup request rate limit value and a connection setup request burst value for a particular linecard of the plurality of linecards, associated with a particular connection setup request queue of the plurality of connection setup request queues, based on the occupancy of the particular connection setup request queue and based on the monitored count of dropped connection setup request packets corresponding to the particular connection setup request queue and attributable to the particular linecard, and programming the adjusted connection setup request rate limit value and the adjusted connection setup request burst value to the particular linecard associated with the particular connection setup request queue. dynamically adjusting the set of one or more connection setup request parameters comprising a connection setup request rate limit value and a connection setup request burst value for a particular linecard of the plurality of linecards, associated with a particular connection setup request queue of the plurality of connection setup request queues, based on the occupancy of the particular connection setup request queue and based on the monitored count of dropped connection setup request packets corresponding to the particular connection setup request queue and attributable to the particular linecard, and programming the adjusted connection setup request rate limit value and the adjusted connection setup request burst value to the particular linecard associated with the particular connection setup request queue.