System and Method of Offloading Protocol Functions

A method of acknowledging receipt of a packet sent from a first processing element to a second processing element, comprising the steps of:

• a) an offload engine comprising a hardware application, a state table and a timer, receiving said packet before said packet reaches said second processing element;
• b) said offload engine modifying said packet so that acknowledgement of receipt of said packet will be sent from said second processing element to said offload engine;
• c) acknowledging receipt of said packet to said first processing element;
• c) said offload engine sending said packet to said second processing element, and starting a timer when said packet is send to said second processing element;
• d) said offload engine, if not having received an acknowledgement from said second processing element that said packet has been received, requesting said first processing element resend said packet.

A field programmable gate array for communicating packets from a first processing element to a second processing element, comprising:

• a hardware application;
• means for communication with a switched fabric;
• means for communication with an Ethernet network;
• a timer, and
• a state table.