A flexible, scalable hardware and software platform that allows a service
provider to easily provide internet services, virtual private network
services, firewall services, etc., to a plurality of customers. One
aspect provides a method and system for delivering security services.
This includes connecting a plurality of processors in a ring
configuration within a first processing system, establishing a secure
connection between the processors in the ring configuration across an
internet protocol (IP) connection to a second processing system to form a
tunnel, and providing both router services and host services for a
customer using the plurality of processors in the ring configuration and
using the second processing system. a packet routing system and method is
described that includes a processor identifier in each packet to route
the packets to a physical processor, and a logical queue identifier to
route the packets to the destination object within that processor.