Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting a plurality of packets in a switch having a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports are disclosed. Two or more packets are received at one or more of the plurality of input ports. One of the plurality of output ports via which to send each of the two or more packets is identified. A request message is sent to an arbitrator. A grant message is then received from the arbitrator in response to the request message. A frame including the two or more received packets is generated. The frame is then sent to the one of the plurality of output ports when the grant message is received.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing arbitration to coordinate the sending of a plurality of packets or frames received at one or more input ports for transmission by one or more output ports are disclosed. One or more request messages are received from one or more of the input ports, each of the request messages indicating a request to send one or more packets or frames via one of the output ports. The arbitrator then determines whether the one of the output ports is capable of receiving the one or more packets or frames. A grant message is generated or sent when it is determined that the one of the output ports is capable of receiving the one or more packets or frames, the grant message indicating that the one of the output ports is capable of receiving the one or more packets or frames.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing storage virtualization on a network device of a storage area network are disclosed. A virtual enclosure is created that has one or more virtual enclosure ports and is adapted for representing one or more virtual storage units. Each of the virtual storage units represents one or more physical storage locations on one or more physical storage units of the storage area network. Each of the virtual enclosure ports of the virtual enclosure is associated with a port of a network device within the storage area network. An address or identifier is then assigned to each of the virtual enclosure ports.