An apparatus is provided, for performing a direct memory access (DMA) operation between a host memory in a first server and a network adapter. The apparatus includes a host frame parser and a protocol engine. The host frame parser is configured to receive data corresponding to the DMA operation from a host interface, and is configured to insert markers on-the-fly into the data at a prescribed interval and to provide marked data for transmission to a second server over a network fabric. The protocol engine is coupled to the host frame parser. The protocol engine is configured to direct the host frame parser to insert the markers, and is configured to specify a first marker value and an offset value, whereby the host frame parser is enabled to locate and insert a first marker into the data.