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A data packet switching and server load balancing device is provided by a general-purpose multiprocessor computer system. The general-purpose multiprocessor computer sys tem comprises a plurality of symmetrical processors coupled together by a common data bus, a main memory shared by the processors, and a plurality of network interfaces each adapted to be coupled to respective external networks for receiving and sending data packets via a particular commu nication protocol, such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). A? rst one of the processors is adapted to serve as a control processor and remaining ones of the processors are adapted to serve as data packet switch ing processors. The data packet switching processors are each coupled to at least one of the plurality of network interfaces. The control processor receives raw load status data from the external networks and …