A method for parsing network packets via one or more clusters configured to parse network packets comprises receiving one or more packets to be parsed; determining a candidate cluster of the one or more clusters for parsing the one or more packets; transmitting the one or more packets to the candidate cluster; launching the candidate cluster to parse the one or more packets when a launch condition is met; and receiving parse results for the one or more packets from the candidate cluster. The launch condition may be met after transmitting the one or more packets meets a fraction of a parsing capacity of the candidate cluster. The fraction may be one such that the transmitting the one or more packets meets a parsing capacity of the candidate cluster. The launch condition may also be met when a time elapsed since a previous cluster was launched reaches a delay limit.