A method of performing an unicast packet ready command (unicast mode operation) is described herein. A packet ready command is received from a memory system via a bus and onto a network interface circuit. The packet ready command includes a multicast value. A communication mode is determined as a function of the multicast value. The multicast value indicates a single packet is to be communicated to a single destination by the network interface circuit. A free packet command is outputted from the network interface circuit onto the bus. The free packet command includes a Free On Last Transfer (FOLT) value that indicates that the packet is to be freed from the memory system by the network interface circuit after the packet is communicated to the network interface circuit. The network interface circuit and the memory system are included on an Island-Based Network Flow Processor.