An Ethernet adapter system may include a transmitter to insert a payload type identifier sequence in a generic frame procedure header to indicate that a network is a converged enhanced Ethernet network. The transmitter may insert idle sequences in a stream of data frames transmitted along a link. The system may include a receiver to recognize a condition and to force a loss of synchronization condition on the link that will be converted by the receiver into a loss of light condition. The receiver may scan the transmitted stream of data frames for invalid data frames and introduce a code into the stream of data frames whenever an invalid data frame is detected.