A method for processing data packets received at a computing system is provided. The method includes receiving a data packet and processing lower layer protocol headers of the data packet to expose overlying headers of the data packet. The overlying headers in a shared hardware component capable of executing header data for a transmission control protocol (TCP) communication and a storage transport protocol (STP) communication are processed. The header data for the TCP communication and the STP communication are positioned into standard header field locations. It is determined whether the data packet is from the TCP communication or the STP communication. If the data packet is from the TCP communication the processing of the overlying headers of the data packet separately in TCP processing is completed. If the data packet is from the STP communication, the processing of the overlying headers of the data packet separately in STP processing is completed.