Dynamically optimized device driver protocol assist threads

A system, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory containing a program which when executed by the processor performs an operation comprising:
• providing a plurality of assist threads configured to process data units received by a network adapter, wherein each of the plurality of assist threads comprises a queue configured to store data units allocated to the respective assist thread;
• allocating data units received by the network adapter to assist threads in a subset of the plurality of assist threads according to a first function, wherein the subset includes a first assist thread and does not include a second assist thread, of the plurality of assist threads;
• monitoring the queues of the assist threads in the subset;
• and
• upon determining that a count of data units in the queue of the first assist thread exceeds a first threshold, modifying the first function to include the second assist thread in the subset of the plurality of assist threads.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code executable by one or more computer processors to perform an operation comprising:
• providing a plurality of assist threads configured to process data units received by a network adapter, wherein each of the plurality of assist threads comprises a queue configured to store data units allocated to the respective assist thread;
• allocating data units received by the network adapter to assist threads in a subset of the plurality of assist threads according to a first function, wherein the subset includes a first assist thread and does not include a second assist thread, of the plurality of assist threads;
• monitoring the queues of the assist threads in the subset;
• and
• upon determining that a count of data units in the queue of the first assist thread exceeds a first threshold, modifying the first function to include the second assist thread in the subset of the plurality of assist threads.