Flexible validation of source identifiers

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• receiving, at a first network interface card (NIC), a first format for an application programming interface (API);
• generating a matching scheme selection bit or bits associated with an identifier, wherein the matching scheme selection bit or bits is indicative of one of a plurality of matching schemes used by the first NIC to generate the identifier;
• adding the matching scheme selection bit or bits to the identifier, wherein a second format of the identifier complies with the first format of the API;
• sending the matching scheme selection bit or bits with the identifier to a receiver device comprising a second NIC;
• and
• based on sending the identifier to the second NIC, enabling the second NIC to add the identifier to a buffer at the second NIC based on the identifier and the matching scheme selection bit or bits.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a plurality of instructions executable by one or more processors, the plurality of instructions when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:

• receive, at a receiver device comprising a second network interface card (NIC) and from a first NIC, a message with an identifier that complies with a format for an application programming interface (API);
• determine a matching scheme matching scheme used to generate the identifier from a matching scheme selection bit included in the message;
• initiate a confirmation scheme associated with the determined matching scheme to validate the identifier in the message;
• and
• when the identifier is validated using the confirmation scheme, add the identifier to the to a buffer at the second NIC.