Calculating a checksum with inactive networking components in a computing system

An apparatus for calculating a checksum for a block of data to be transmitted over a data communications network, the apparatus comprising a computer processor, a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, causes the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

• identifying, by a checksum distribution manager, an inactive networking component that will not be utilized to transmit any portion of the block of data over the data communications network, wherein the inactive networking component includes a checksum calculation engine for computing a checksum, the inactive networking component comprising a network adapter;
• sending, to the inactive networking component from the checksum distribution manager, metadata describing a block of data;
• calculating, by the inactive networking component, a checksum for the block of data;
• and
• transmitting, to the checksum distribution manager from the inactive networking component, the checksum for the block of data.