From received data packets intended for a target virtual machine of a virtualization system, a destination network address of the target virtual machine is determined, and a current write buffer pointer is identified that points to a buffer associated with the identified target virtual machine corresponding to the destination network address. If the identified write buffer pointer indicates that the buffer has sufficient available space to accept the data packets, and if the associated buffer has sufficient available space, the data packets are placed in the associated buffer in buffer data locations according to a calculated new write buffer pointer value, and a wakeup byte data message is sent to a designated socket of the target virtual machine. Generally, the target virtual machine detects the wakeup byte data message at the designated socket and, in response, retrieves the data packets from the associated buffer in accordance with the new write buffer pointer value.