Method and system for an adapter operationally coupled to a host system and a network is provided. The adapter includes an internal memory that can be configured in a first mode to operate as a dedicated random access memory used by a main processor of the adapter; or configured in a second mode to operate both as a random access memory used by the main processor and also used for storing information received from the network. The method includes enabling the second mode of the internal memory so that the internal memory is configured to operate both as random access memory for the main processor and for storing information received from the network.