1. A method for scheduling receive-side processing of data packets in a multiprocessor computer system comprising a network interface communicably coupled to a network to receive data packets, memory and at least two local processors, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a data packet from a remote requesting client over the network; applying a cryptographically secure hashing function to the data packet, the cryptographically secure hashing function producing a hash value; applying the hash value to a processor selection policy to identify the local processor as a selected processor to perform receive-side processing of the data packet; directing the received data packet to the selected processor; and processing the data packet.