Abstract: A segmented fiber channel communications system includes a segmentation router, including a plurality of ports. Control instructions associated with the segmentation router establish the segmentation router as a master router by initializing each of at least a predetermined subset of the plurality of ports on a fiber channel arbitrated loop associated with the segmentation router. This causes the segmentation router to win the LISM process performed by the fiber channel arbitrated loop. Control instructions further includes instructions for transmitting LIPA, LIHA, and LISA frames to the fiber channel arbitrated loop from each of the ports. Transmission begins with LIPA frames having all but the LIPA frame range of address bits set to 1. This prevents other network loop ports attached to a router other than the master router from acquiring a duplicate address. The system then establishes a plurality of sub-loops each associated with a predetermined set of physical addresses.