Abstract: A multiprocessor computer system comprises a plurality of network interfaces each adapted to be coupled to respective external networks for receiving and sending data packets to and from remote devices coupled to the external networks via a particular communication protocol. The multiprocessor computer system further comprises a plurality of symmetrical processors including a control processor and at least one switching processor. The switching processor further includes at least one network application executing thereon. The control processor further includes an operating system portion having a kernel memory and at least one network driver communicating with the plurality of network interfaces. A buffer descriptor list is accessible by the network application and the network driver.

Abstract: A data packet switching system comprises a plurality of network interfaces each adapted to be coupled to respective external networks for receiving and sending data packets to and from the external networks via a particular communication protocol. The data packet switching system further includes a plurality of symmetrical processors, including a first processor providing a control processor and remaining ones of the processors each providing data packet switching processors. The data packet switching processors are coupled to the plurality of network interfaces. The control processor further includes a user portion and an operating system portion. The operating system portion is provided with a pseudo-network driver that appears to be a network interface to user application programs operating on the user portion of the control processor. A memory space is shared by the control processor and the data packet switching processors.

Abstract: A data packet switching and server load balancing device is provided by a general-purpose multiprocessor computer system. The general-purpose multiprocessor computer system comprises a plurality of symmetrical processors coupled together by a common data bus, a main memory shared by the processors, and a plurality of network interfaces each adapted to be coupled to respective external networks for receiving and sending data packets via a particular communication protocol, such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). A first one of the processors is adapted to serve as a control processor and remaining ones of the processors are adapted to serve as data packet switching processors. The data packet switching processors are each coupled to at least one of the plurality of network interfaces. The control processor receives raw load status data from the external networks and generates load distribution configuration data therefrom.

Abstract: A data packet switching system comprises a plurality of network interfaces each adapted to be coupled to respective external networks for receiving and sending data packets to and from the external networks via a particular communication protocol. The data packet switching system further includes a plurality of symmetrical processors, including a first processor providing a control processor and remaining ones of said processors each providing data packet switching processors. The control processor is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of network interfaces and the data packet switching processors are coupled to each remaining one of the plurality of network interfaces. A switch is coupled to the control processor through the corresponding one of the network interfaces and is coupled to at least one of the switching processors through at least one other one of the network interfaces.