Data packet processing method for a multi core processor

A method of processing a data packet comprising:

• determining whether to process an outgoing data packet using a CPU core within a multi core processor platform executing an application or using an alternative central processor unit (CPU) core;
• and
• where it is determined to use the alternative CPU core:
• selecting the alternative CPU core for outgoing packet processing based on processor load;
• establishing an application connection in the selected alternative CPU core;
• associating the data packet with the application connection;
• and
• creating an interrupt thread on the selected alternative CPU core for processing the data packet to the network interface;
• in which the steps of selecting the alternative CPU core and establishing an application connection are performed at session layer level of a network stack.

A network server system comprising:

• at least one central processor unit (CPU) having a number of cores;
• and
• a network interface for connecting to a network,
• in which the network interface is adapted to create an interrupt in a designated CPU core for processing each data packet received from the network, and in which:
• each data packet received from the network is associated with an application connection established in a selected CPU core at session layer level of a network stack;
• the CPU core is selected based on processor load;
• and
• an interrupt thread is created on the CPU core associated with the application connection for processing the data packet.

A network server system comprising:

• a number of central processor units (CPU) each having a plurality of cores;
• and
• a network interface configured to connect to a network and further configured to allow each CPU core to access the network, in which:
• the network interface is adapted to create an interrupt in a designated CPU core for processing each data packet received from the network, and in which:
• each data packet being sent to the network is associated with an application connection established either in the CPU core in which the application is executing, or an alternative CPU core selected based on processor load;
• and,
• where the application connection is established in an alternative CPU core, an interrupt thread is created on the CPU core associated with the application connection for processing the data packet;
• in which, for data packets being sent to the network, the processor is adapted to select a CPU core and establish the application connection at session layer level of a network stack.