An apparatus for transferring a replacement program into dedicated memories in a plurality of network interface cards includes: 1) a replacement program memory for storing the replacement program; 2) a first microcontroller coupled to the replacement program memory and having a first dedicated memory associated therewith; and 3) a second microcontroller coupled to the replacement program memory and having a second dedicated memory associated therewith. The first microcontroller monitors a first signal line to the replacement program memory to determine if the second microcontroller is transferring the replacement program from the replacement program memory to the second dedicated memory. The first microcontroller, in response to a determination that the second microcontroller is transferring the replacement program, transfers at least a portion of the replacement program to the first dedicated memory as the replacement program is read from the replacement program memory by the second microcontroller.