Performance in multi-core data storage systems is increased while allowing for portability and fast failover in the event of a failure of a driver stack by a data storage system employing several queues to reduce lock contention. Queueing is performed with two levels of several queues each within a userspace scheduling driver within a userspace container. The userspace scheduling driver may dequeue into a userspace management driver that communicates with a kernel-based hardware driver by way of a kernel helper driver. An apparatus, system, and computer program product for performing a similar method are also provided.