Abstract: A computing system is connected to a network. The computing system includes a network adapter and a main memory. The network adapter receives from the network a network packet having a plurality of headers. The network adapter inserts at least one pad byte within one of the plurality of headers to cause the plurality of headers in the network packet to be aligned along predetermined multi-byte boundaries. For example, the multi-byte boundaries are four-byte boundaries. After inserting the at least one pad byte, the network adapter forwards the network packet to the main memory.