of SNPs will be required inside stor- age network end systems. More specifically, SNPs will be needed on target iSCSI adapters embed- ded in iSCSI-compatible RAID as well as in legacy Fibre Channel RAID arrays and more traditional server HBAs. REQUIREMENTS FOR AN SNP An SNP must meet the following requirements: Storage-related packets traveling over the SAN or the corporate IP network, which are encapsulated, and possibly multiple times, will often require decapsulation and reassembly at line speeds that can be 10 Gbps. A received packet must at least be submitted to deep packet inspection by the storage network- processing equipment. Correct, rapid, and deep packet inspection will lead to the appropriate decision regarding their appropriate classification. Classification is followed by forwarding. Reliability in transmission and TCP offloading are major issues. Offloading the heavy-duty processing of terminating the TCP protocol for multiple (possibly thousands) simultaneous active sessions is of paramount importance in order for the network equipment to function properly. Time-related performance must be optimized. Jitter and latency are exceptionally critical parameters. In some applications, the capability of running multiple storage protocols (iSCSI and Fibre Channel) at the same time is imperative. Connectivity to multiple different network physical layers is also very important; therefore, the SNP should be able to support 1 Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet networks with embedded MAC circuitry as well as Fibre Channel and other networks, such as InfiniBand and/or others. The level of solution integration must be addressed, as a chip is preferable to a board because of its cost, power consumption, and reliability. Ease of integration into a final product should not be underestimated as this implies an advantage for the customer in terms of time to market. Last but not least, the programmability of the SNP is indispensable, as the OEM user must be able to program new functionality in order to upgrade