Abstract: Apparatus and method for carrying out data switching; e.g. at a store-and-forward exchange node in a data communication network. Plural processors operate relative to multiple ports and traffic storage queues, partially on an exclusive basis and partially on a shared basis, to effectuate switching of data traffic with balanced sharing of the aggregate processing load. The processors control traffic processing functions (reception, storage and output transfer) on a varied assignment schedule. Supervisory signals exchanged between processors indicate status and destinations of currently stored traffic loads. The scheduling of output traffic to ports is handled by individual processors on an exclusive assignment basis. When a port is available to handle a given traffic segment (packet) destined for that port the respective processor having exclusive output scheduling responsibility for that port signals such availability to the processor having current responsibility over the transfer of said segment.