1. A method to offload a network stack state object and at least one associated protocol stack in a computer system environment from a first path going through a plurality of software layers to a peripheral device to a second path going from a switch layer to the peripheral device, the network stack state object having a cached state variable and at least one of a constant state variable and a delegated state variable, the method comprising the steps of: sending a request to offload the network stack state object from the switch layer to the peripheral device through the plurality of software layers, the request having a list of resource requirements; if the network stack state object will be offloaded: receiving an offload handle at at least one of the plurality of software layers; sending the network stack state object to the peripheral device from the at least one of the plurality of software layers; and transferring buffers to the peripheral device from the switch layer.