A system and method of managing memory in a system area network that registers buffers for use by an application program to access hardware adapters. The system and method maintains a list of registered buffers so that the application program may perform more than one request using the buffer. De-registration of a buffer occurs only upon an explicit de-registration or free command or upon the receipt of a request to modify the properties of the buffer, or in some cases, following the use of garbage collection techniques.