Method and apparatus for kernel-level passing of a data packet from a first data network to a second data network

A network processor comprising:

• one or more processors;
• first network interface capable of enabling a processor to communicate with a first data network;
• second network interface capable of enabling a processor to communicate with a second data network;
• memory capable of storing an instruction sequence and a kernel-level buffer;
• one or more instruction sequences stored in the memory including:
• protocol stack that, when a first instantiation of which is executed by the processor, minimally causes the processor to receive a data packet from the first network interface and that, when a second instantiation of which is executed by the processor, minimally causes the processor to convey a data packet to the second network interface;
• receive-send module that, when executed by the processor, minimally causes the processor to:
• accept a data packet from a first executing instantiation of the protocol stack so as to receive a data packet into a kernel-level buffer;
• and
• direct the data packet from the kernel-level buffer to a second executing instantiation of the protocol stack when the data packet needs to be passed to a second data network.

A computer readable medium having imparted thereon one or more instruction sequences for passing a data packet from a first data network to a second data network including:

• receive-send module that, when executed by a processor, minimally causes a processor to:
• accept a data packet from a first executing instantiation of a protocol stack so as to receive a data packet into a kernel-level buffer;
• and
• direct the data packet from the kernel-level buffer to a second executing instantiation of a protocol stack when the data packet needs to be passed to a second data network.