System and method for network protocol offloading in virtual networks

A computing system for a virtual network, comprising:

• a physical network interface couplable to a physical network over which packets are transmittable and receivable, and configured to execute network protocol processing tasks for the packets;
• a non-transitory memory coupled to the physical network interface and configured to store the packets;
• and
• a first processor coupled to the physical network interface and the non-transitory memory, and having a virtual switch module configured to:
• receive a packet from a virtual source node destined for a virtual receiver node,
• defer a network protocol processing task for the packet and forward the packet when the virtual receiver node is safe for network protocol offloading,
• execute the network protocol processing task and forward the packet when the virtual receiver node is unsafe for network protocol offloading, and
• cause the packet to be stored in the non-transitory memory and instruct the physical network interface to execute the network protocol processing task and to transmit the packet, when the virtual receiver node is safe for network protocol offloading and a path between the virtual switch module and the virtual receiver node includes the physical network interface.