Abstract: A system and method for distributing a portion of the processing of a received packet among a plurality of service threads. When an ISR or similar process retrieves a packet from a communication interface via a receive descriptor ring, it places the packet on one of a plurality of service queues. Each queue has an associated service thread or process that initiates upper layer protocol processing for queued packets. The ISR may select a particular service queue based on the packet's communication flow or connection. Alternatively, the ISR may use a processor identifier provided by the communication interface to select a queue (e.g., in a multi-processor computer system). Or, other information provided by the interface may be used.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing a portion of the processing of a received packet among a plurality of service threads. When an ISR or similar process retrieves a packet from a communication interface via a receive descriptor ring, it places the packet on one of a plurality of service queues. Each queue has an associated service thread or process that initiates upper layer protocol processing for queued packets. The ISR may select a particular service queue based on the packet's communication flow or connection. Alternatively, the ISR may use a processor identifier provided by the communication interface to select a queue (e.g., in a multi-processor computer system). Or, other information provided by the interface may be used.