Abstract: A flexible, scalable hardware and software platform that allows a service provider to easily provide internet services, virtual private network services, firewall services, etc., to a plurality of customers. One aspect provides a method and system for delivering security services. This includes connecting a plurality of processors in a ring configuration within a first processing system, establishing a secure connection between the processors in the ring configuration across an internet protocol (IP) connection to a second processing system to form a tunnel, and providing both router services and host services for a customer using the plurality of processors in the ring configuration and using the second processing system, a packet routing system and method is described that includes a processor identifier in each packet to route the packets to a physical processor, and a logical queue identifier to route the packets to the destination object within that processor.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for allocating network resources of a distributed virtual system to support managed, network-based services. According to one embodiment, a VR-based switch having multiple processing elements is configured for operation at an Internet POP. An NOS is provided on each of the processing elements. Resources of the VR-based switch are segmented between a first and second subscriber by mapping VRs assigned to the first and second subscriber onto appropriate processing elements. Then, a first and second set of customized services are configured, each including two or more of firewalling, virtual private networking, encryption, traffic shaping, routing and network address translation (NAT), to be provided by the VR-based switch. Customized services are configured by allocating appropriate service object groups to the VRs, which can be dynamically distributed by the NOS to customized processors of the processing elements to achieve desired computational support.