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.

Abstract: A system implements checksumming of a network packet to be sent over a network. A processor constructs the network packet within a main memory. The network packet is transferred from the main memory to a packet storage memory within a network adapter. During the transfer, the network adapter calculates a checksum for the network packet. The network adapter then inserts the checksum into the network packet within the packet storage memory. The network adapter then sends the network packet to the network. In order to calculate the checksum for the network packet, hardware within the network adapter "snoops" an internal bus within the network adapter as the network packet is transported to the packet storage memory. Also, a checksum header is prepended to the network packet which includes control information for checksumming.