Within the CIR distribution process is the initial phase of bandwidth allocation between a parent scheduler and its child queues and child schedulers. The bandwidth that is available to the parent scheduler is distributed first among the child members using each child’s CIR level (to define a strict priority for the CIR distribution), CIR weight (the ratio at a specific CIR level with several children), and the child’s CIR value. A CIR value of zero or an undefined CIR level causes a child to not receive any bandwidth during the CIR distribution phase. If the parent scheduler has any bandwidth remaining after the within-CIR distribution phase, it is distributed using the above-CIR distribution phase.