Network controller-sideband interface port controller

A network interface controller includes a media access controller connected to receive an in-band packet and further connected to receive a sideband packet. The network interface controller includes a host adapter that includes a receive route connected to receive the in-band packet and the sideband packet from the media access controller, and further connected to transmit the in-band packet to a host. The network interface controller includes a sideband port controller comprising a sideband receive buffer. The host adapter further includes a first receive buffer to store the in-band packet and to store the sideband packet. The host adapter further includes an arbiter connected to allow, at a time, the in-band packet to advance from the first receive buffer along the receive route towards the host and further connected to allow, at a different time, the sideband packet to advance to the sideband receive buffer of the sideband port controller.