1. A compute node coupled to a computer network, the compute node comprising: a network interface controller that is different from a processor of the compute node, wherein the network interface controller includes a memory having stored therein persistent instructions that provide control functions to the network interface controller, wherein the control functions implement, at least in part, a protocol; wherein the network interface controller is to: parse packets received by the network interface controller using the persistent instructions; receive update data from a remote node in the computer network, wherein the update data includes protocol descriptors that define a new protocol; determine, in response to a receipt of the update data and for each protocol descriptor, whether a protocol descriptor of the protocol descriptors exists in a database; determine, in response to a determination that the protocol descriptor does not exist in the database, whether the protocol descriptor defines a protocol exception action; perform, in response to a determination that the protocol exception action is defined, the protocol exception action; determine, in response to a determination that the protocol exception action is not defined, whether the protocol descriptor is valid; compile, in response to a determination that the protocol descriptor exists in the database and without a reset of the network interface controller, the update data to generate new persistent instructions for implementing the new protocol; transmit, in response to a determination that the update data was successfully compiled, an acknowledgment to the remote node, the acknowledgement includes an identifier that identifies the new protocol implemented by the new persistent instructions; and parse subsequent packets received by the network interface controller using the new persistent instructions.