A data processing system for processing data messages received from multiple user terminals over one or more data networks includes a processor, an input/output (I/O) range, and multiple processing layers configured to run on the processor. The multiple processing layers include an application layer, including an application, configured when run on the processor to process data messages from the I/O range, a hardware layer configured when run on the processor to communicate with hardware devices including the user terminals, and an operating system kernel layer configured when run on the processor to provide data communications between the application layer and the hardware layer. The application layer can bypass the operating system kernel layer when communicating with the hardware layer to poll the I/O range for data messages for input to and processing by the application.