Claims
- 1. A device for use in a fabric, the device being connected to a second device using a link, with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, the device comprising:
a first port for coupling to the fabric; a second port for connecting to the link; means coupled to said first port for receiving a frame to be routed over the link; means coupled to said receiving means for performing mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; and means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said second port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said second port for transmission over the link.
- 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said mathematical operation is encryption.
- 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said mathematical operation is compression.
- 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said mathematical operation is encryption and compression.
- 5. The device of claim 1, wherein there is a second fabric and the second device resides in the second fabric.
- 6. The device of claim 1, wherein there is a second fabric and a third device which resides in the second fabric, the third device connectable to the device using a second link, the device further comprising:
a third port for connecting to the second link; and means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said third port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said third port for transmission over the second link; wherein said mathematical operations means selects said second port providing means or said third port providing means.
- 7. A device for use in a device fabric, the device being connected to a second device using a link, with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, the device comprising:
a first port for coupling to the fabric; a second port for connecting to the link; receive logic coupled to said port to receive a frame to be routed over the link; mathematical operation logic coupled to said receive logic to perform mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; and transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said second port to provide said mathematically operated frame to said second port for transmission over the link.
- 8. The device of claim 7, wherein said mathematical operation is encryption.
- 9. The device of claim 7, wherein said mathematical operation is compression.
- 10. The device of claim 7, wherein said mathematical operation is encryption and compression.
- 11. The device of claim 7, wherein there is a second fabric and the second device resides in the second fabric.
- 12. The device of claim 7, wherein there is a second fabric and a third device which resides in the second fabric, the third device connectable to the device using a second link, the device further comprising:
a third port for connecting to the second link; and second transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said third port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said third port for transmission over the second link; wherein said mathematical operation logic selects said transmit logic or said second transmit logic.
- 13. A device for use in a fabric, the device being connected to a second device using a link, with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, the device comprising:
a first port for coupling to the fabric; a second port for connecting to said link; means coupled to said second port for receiving a frame over the link; means coupled to said receiving means for performing mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; and means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said first port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said first port for transmission to the fabric.
- 14. The device of claim 13, wherein said mathematical operation is decryption.
- 15. The device of claim 13, wherein said mathematical operation is decompression.
- 16. The device of claim 13, wherein said mathematical operation is decryption and decompression.
- 17. The device of claim 13, wherein there is a second fabric and the second device resides in the second fabric.
- 18. The device of claim 13, wherein there is a second fabric and a third device which resides in the second fabric, the third device connectable to the device using a second link, the device further comprising:
a third port for connecting to the second link; and means coupled to said third port and said mathematical operations means for receiving a frame over the second link and providing said frame to said mathematical operations means.
- 19. A device for use in a fabric, the device being connected to a second device using a link, with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, the device comprising:
a first port for coupling to the fabric; a second port for connecting to the link; receive logic coupled to said second port to receive a frame over the link; mathematical operation logic coupled to said receive logic to perform mathematical operations on the payload of said received frames; and transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said first port to provide said mathematically operated frame to said first port for transmission to the fabric.
- 20. The device of claim 19, wherein said mathematical operation is decryption.
- 21. The device of claim 19, wherein said mathematical operation is decompression.
- 22. The device of claim 19, wherein said mathematical operation is decryption and decompression.
- 23. The device of claim 19, wherein there is a second fabric and the second device resides in the second fabric.
- 24. The device of claim 19, wherein there is a second fabric and a third device which resides in the second fabric, the third device connectable to the device using a second link, the device further comprising:
a third port for connecting to the second link; and receive logic coupled to said third port and said mathematical operation logic for receiving a frame over the second link and providing said frame to said mathematical operation logic.
- 25. A device for use in a fabric, the device being connected to a second device using a link, with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, the device comprising:
a first port for coupling to the fabric; a second port for connecting to the link; means coupled to said first port for receiving a frame to be routed over the link; means coupled to said second port for receiving a frame over the link; means coupled to said first port receiving means and said second port receiving means for performing mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said second port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said second port for transmission over the link for frames received at said first port; and means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said first port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said first port for transmission to the fabric for frames received at said second port.
- 26. The device of claim 25, wherein said mathematical operations are encryption and decryption.
- 27 The device of claim 25, wherein said mathematical operations are compression and decompression.
- 28. The device of claim 25, wherein said mathematical operations are encryption, decryption, compression and decompression.
- 29. The device of claim 25, wherein there is a second fabric and the second device resides in the second fabric.
- 30. The device of claim 25, wherein there is a second fabric and a third device which resides in the second fabric, the third device connectable to the device using a second link, the device further comprising:
a third port for connecting to the second link; means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said third port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said third port for transmission over the second link; and means coupled to said third port and said mathematical operations means for receiving a frame over the second link and providing said frame to said mathematical operations means, wherein said mathematical operations means selects said second port providing means or said third port providing means, and wherein said first port providing means further provides said mathematically operated frame to said first port for frames received at said third port.
- 31. A device for use in a device fabric, the device being connected to a second device using a link, with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, the device comprising:
a first port for coupling to the fabric; a second port for connecting to the link; receive logic coupled to said first port to receive a frame to be routed over the link; receive logic coupled to said second port to receive a frame over the link; mathematical operation logic coupled to said receive logic to perform mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said second port to provide said mathematically operated frame to said second port for transmission over the link for frames received at said first port; and transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said first port to provide said mathematically operated frame to said first port for transmission to the fabric for frames received at said second port.
- 32. The device of claim 31, wherein said mathematical operations are encryption and decryption.
- 33. The device of claim 31, wherein said mathematical operations are compression and decompression.
- 34. The device of claim 31, wherein said mathematical operations are encryption, decryption, compression and decompression.
- 35. The device of claim 31, wherein there is a second fabric and the second device resides in the second fabric.
- 36. The device of claim 31, wherein there is a second fabric and a third device which resides in the second fabric, the third device connectable to the device using a second link, the device further comprising:
a third port for connecting to the second link; second transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said third port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said third port for transmission over the second link; and receive logic coupled to said third port and said mathematical operation logic for receiving a frame over the second link and providing said frame to said mathematical operation logic, wherein said mathematical operation logic selects said transmit logic or said second transmit logic for frames received by said first port, and wherein said first port providing transmit logic further provides said mathematically operated frame to said first port for frames received at said third port.
- 37. A fabric with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, the fabric comprising:
a device; a second device; and a link connecting said device and second device, wherein said device includes:
a first port for coupling to the fabric; a second port for connecting to said link; means coupled to said first port for receiving a frame to be routed over said link; means coupled to said receiving means for performing mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; and means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said second port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said second port for transmission over said link.
- 38. The fabric of claim 37, wherein said mathematical operation is encryption.
- 39. The fabric of claim 37, wherein said mathematical operation is compression.
- 40. The fabric of claim 37, wherein said mathematical operation is encryption and compression.
- 41. The fabric of claim 37, wherein there is a second fabric and a third device which resides in the second fabric, the third device connectable to said device using a second link, said device further including:
a third port for connecting to the second link; and means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said third port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said third port for transmission over the second link; wherein said mathematical operations means selects said second port providing means or said third port providing means.
- 42. A fabric with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, the fabric comprising:
a device; a second device; and a link connecting said device and said second device, wherein said device includes:
a first port for coupling to the fabric; a second port for connecting to said link; receive logic coupled to said port to receive a frame to be routed over said link; mathematical operation logic coupled to said receive logic to perform mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; and transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said second port to provide said mathematically operated frame to said second port for transmission over said link.
- 43. The fabric of claim 42, wherein said mathematical operation is encryption.
- 44. The fabric of claim 42, wherein said mathematical operation is compression.
- 45. The fabric of claim 42, wherein said mathematical operation is encryption and compression.
- 46. The fabric of claim 42, wherein there is a second fabric and a third device which resides in the second fabric, the third device connectable to said device using a second link, said device further including:
a third port for connecting to the second link; and second transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said third port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said third port for transmission over the second link; wherein said mathematical operation logic selects said transmit logic or said second transmit logic.
- 47. A fabric with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, the fabric comprising:
a device; a second device; and a link connecting said device and said second device, wherein said device includes:
a first port for coupling to the fabric; a second port for connecting to said link; means coupled to said second port for receiving a frame over said link; means coupled to said receiving means for performing mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; and means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said first port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said first port for transmission to the fabric.
- 48. The fabric of claim 47, wherein said mathematical operation is decryption.
- 49. The fabric of claim 47, wherein said mathematical operation is decompression.
- 50. The fabric of claim 47, wherein said mathematical operation-is decryption and decompression.
- 51. The fabric of claim 47, wherein there is a second fabric and a third device which resides in the second fabric, the third device connectable to said device using a second link, said device further including:
a third port for connecting to the second link; and means coupled to said third port and said mathematical operations means for receiving a frame over the second link and providing said frame to said mathematical operations means.
- 52. A fabric with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, the fabric comprising:
a device; a second device; and a link connecting said device and said second device, wherein said device includes:
a first port for coupling to the fabric; a second port for connecting to said link; receive logic coupled to said second port to receive a frame over said link; mathematical operation logic coupled to said receive logic to perform mathematical operations on the payload of said received frames; and transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said first port to provide said mathematically operated frame to said first port for transmission to the fabric.
- 53. The fabric of claim 52, wherein said mathematical operation is decryption.
- 54. The fabric of claim 52, wherein said mathematical operation is decompression.
- 55. The fabric of claim 52, wherein said mathematical operation is decryption and decompression.
- 56. The fabric of claim 52, wherein there is a second fabric and a third device which resides in the second fabric, the third device connectable to said device using a second link, said device further including:
a third port for connecting to the second link; and receive logic coupled to said third port and said mathematical operation logic for receiving a frame over the second link and providing said frame to said mathematical operation logic.
- 57. A fabric with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, the fabric comprising:
a device; a second device; and a link connecting said device and said second device, wherein said device includes:
a first port for coupling to the fabric; a second port for connecting to said link; means coupled to said first port for receiving a frame to be routed over said link; means coupled to said second port for receiving a frame over said link; means coupled to said first port receiving means and said second port receiving means for performing mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said second port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said second port for transmission over said link for frames received at said first port; and means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said first port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said first port for transmission to the fabric for frames received at said second port.
- 58. The fabric of claim 57, wherein said mathematical operations are encryption and decryption.
- 59. The fabric of claim 57, wherein said mathematical operations are compression and decompression.
- 60. The fabric of claim 57, wherein said mathematical operations are encryption, decryption, compression and decompression.
- 61. The fabric of claim 57, wherein there is a second fabric and a third device which resides in the second fabric, the third device connectable to said device using a second link, said device further including:
a third port for connecting to the second link; means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said third port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said third port for transmission over the second link; and means coupled to said third port and said mathematical operations means for receiving a frame over the second link and providing said frame to said mathematical operations means, wherein said mathematical operations means selects said second port providing means or said third port providing means, and wherein said first port providing means further provides said mathematically operated frame to said first port for frames received at said third port.
- 62. A fabric with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, the fabric comprising:
a device; a second device; and a link connecting said device and said second device, wherein said device includes:
a first port for coupling to the fabric; a second port for connecting to said link; receive logic coupled to said first port to receive a frame to be routed over said link; receive logic coupled to said second port to receive a frame over said link; mathematical operation logic coupled to said receive logic to perform mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said second port to provide said mathematically operated frame to said second port for transmission over said link for frames received at said first port; and transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said first port to provide said mathematically operated frame to said first port for transmission to the fabric for frames received at said second port.
- 63. The fabric of claim 62, wherein said mathematical operations are encryption and decryption.
- 64. The fabric of claim 62, wherein said mathematical operations are compression and decompression.
- 65. The fabric of claim 62, wherein said mathematical operations are encryption, decryption, compression and decompression.
- 66. The fabric of claim 62, wherein there is a second fabric and a third device which resides in the second fabric, the third device connectable to said device using a second link, said device further including:
a third port for connecting to the second link; second transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said third port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said third port for transmission over the second link; and receive logic coupled to said third port and said mathematical operation logic for receiving a frame over the second link and providing said frame to said mathematical operation logic, wherein said mathematical operation logic selects said transmit logic or said second transmit logic for frames received by said first port, and wherein said first port providing transmit logic further provides said mathematically operated frame to said first port for frames received at said third port.
- 67. A network comprising:
a host; a storage unit; and a fabric with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, said fabric connecting said host and said storage unit, said fabric including:
a device; a second device; and a link connecting said device and second device, wherein said device includes:
a first port for coupling to said fabric; a second port for connecting to said link; means coupled to said first port for receiving a frame to be routed over said link; means coupled to said receiving means for performing mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; and means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said second port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said second port for transmission over said link.
- 68. The network of claim 67, wherein said mathematical operation is encryption.
- 69. The network of claim 67, wherein said mathematical operation is compression.
- 70. The network of claim 67, wherein said mathematical operation is encryption and compression.
- 71. The network of claim 67, further comprising:
a second fabric, said second fabric including a third device, said third device connectable to said device using a second link, said device further including:
a third port for connecting to said second link; and means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said third port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said third port for transmission over said second link; wherein said mathematical operations means selects said second port providing means or said third port providing means.
- 72. The network of claim 67, further comprising:
a second fabric, the second device residing in said second fabric.
- 73. A network comprising:
a host; a storage unit; and a fabric with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, said fabric connecting said host and said storage unit, said fabric including:
a device; a second device; and a link connecting said device and said second device, wherein said device includes:
a first port for coupling to said fabric; a second port for connecting to said link; receive logic coupled to said port to receive a frame to be routed over said link; mathematical operation logic coupled to said receive logic to perform mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; and transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said second port to provide said mathematically operated frame to said second port for transmission over said link.
- 74. The network of claim 73, wherein said mathematical operation is encryption.
- 75. The network of claim 73, wherein said mathematical operation is compression.
- 76. The network of claim 73, wherein said mathematical operation is encryption and compression.
- 77. The network of claim 73, further comprising:
a second fabric, said second fabric including a third device, said third device connectable to said device using a second link, said device further including:
a third port for connecting to said second link; and second transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said third port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said third port for transmission over said second link; wherein said mathematical operation logic selects said transmit logic or said second transmit logic.
- 78. The network of claim 73, further comprising:
a second fabric, the second device residing in said second fabric.
- 79. A network comprising:
a host; a storage unit; and a fabric with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, said fabric connecting said host and said storage unit, said fabric including:
a device; a second device; and a link connecting said device and said second device, wherein said device includes:
a first port for coupling to said fabric; a second port for connecting to said link; means coupled to said second port for receiving a frame over said link; means coupled to said receiving means for performing mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; and means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said first port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said first port for transmission to said fabric.
- 80. The network of claim 79, wherein said mathematical operation is decryption.
- 81. The network of claim 79, wherein said mathematical operation is decompression.
- 82. The network of claim 79, wherein said mathematical operation is decryption and decompression.
- 83. The network of claim 79, further comprising:
a second fabric, said second fabric including a third device, said third device connectable to said device using a second link, said device further including:
a third port for connecting to said second link; and means coupled to said third port and said mathematical operations means for receiving a frame over the second link and providing said frame to said mathematical operations means.
- 84. The network of claim 79, further comprising:
a second fabric, the second device residing in said second fabric.
- 85. A network comprising:
a host; a storage unit; and a fabric with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, said fabric connecting said host and said storage unit, said fabric including:
a device; a second device; and a link connecting said device and said second device, wherein said device includes:
a first port for coupling to said fabric; a second port for connecting to said link; receive logic coupled to said second port to receive a frame over said link; mathematical operation logic coupled to said receive logic to perform mathematical operations on the payload of said received frames; and transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said first port to provide said mathematically operated frame to said first port for transmission to said fabric.
- 86. The network of claim 85, wherein said mathematical operation is decryption.
- 87. The network of claim 85, wherein said mathematical operation is decompression.
- 88. The network of claim 85, wherein said mathematical operation is decryption and decompression.
- 89. The network of claim 85, further comprising:
second fabric, said second fabric including a third device, said third device connectable to said device using a second link, said device further including:
a third port for connecting to said second link; and receive logic coupled to said third port and said mathematical operation logic for receiving a frame over said second link and providing said frame to said mathematical operation logic.
- 90. The network of claim 85, further comprising:
a second fabric, the second device residing in said second fabric.
- 91. A network comprising:
a host; a storage unit; and a fabric with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, said fabric connecting said host and said storage unit, said fabric including:
a device; a second device; and a link connecting said device and said second device, wherein said device includes:
a first port for coupling to said fabric; a second port for connecting to said link; means coupled to said first port for receiving a frame to be routed over said link; means coupled to said second port for receiving a frame over said link; means coupled to said first port receiving means and said second port receiving means for performing mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said second port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said second port for transmission over said link for frames received at said first port; and means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said first port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said first port for transmission to the fabric for frames received at said second port.
- 92. The network of claim 91, wherein said mathematical operations are encryption and decryption.
- 93. The network of claim 91, wherein said mathematical operations are compression and decompression.
- 94. The network of claim 91, wherein said mathematical operations are encryption, decryption, compression and decompression.
- 95. The network of claim 91, further comprising:
a second fabric, said second fabric including a third device, said third device connectable to said device using a second link, said device further including:
a third port for connecting to said second link; means coupled to said mathematical operations means and said third port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said third port for transmission over said second link; and means coupled to said third port and said mathematical operations means for receiving a frame over the second link and providing said frame to said mathematical operations means, wherein said mathematical operations means selects said second port providing means or said third port providing means, and wherein said first port providing means further provides said mathematically operated frame to said first port for frames received at said third port.
- 96. The network of claim 91, further comprising:
a second fabric, the second device residing in said second fabric.
- 97. A network comprising:
a host; a storage unit; and a fabric with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, said fabric connecting said host and said storage unit, said fabric including:
a device; a second device; and a link connecting said device and said second device, wherein said device includes:
a first port for coupling to said fabric; a second port for connecting to said link; receive logic coupled to said first port to receive a frame to be routed over said link; receive logic coupled to said second port to receive a frame over said link; mathematical operation logic coupled to said receive logic to perform mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said second port to provide said mathematically operated frame to said second port for transmission over said link for frames received at said first port; and transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said first port to provide said mathematically operated frame to said first port for transmission to the fabric for frames received at said second port.
- 98. The network of claim 97, wherein said mathematical operations are encryption and decryption.
- 99. The network of claim 97, wherein said mathematical operations are compression and decompression.
- 100. The network of claim 97, wherein said mathematical operations are encryption, decryption, compression and decompression.
- 101. The network of claim 97, further comprising:
a second fabric, said second fabric including a third device, said third device connectable to said device using a second link, said device further including:
a third port for connecting to said second link; second transmit logic coupled to said mathematical operation logic and said third port for providing said mathematically operated frame to said third port for transmission over said second link; and receive logic coupled to said third port and said mathematical operation logic for receiving a frame over the second link and providing said frame to said mathematical operation logic, wherein said mathematical operation logic selects said transmit logic or said second transmit logic for frames received by said first port, and wherein said first port providing transmit logic further provides said mathematically operated frame to said first port for frames received at said third port.
- 102. The network of claim 97, further comprising:
a second fabric, the second device residing in said second fabric.
- 103. A method for operating a device for use in a fabric, the device being connected to a second device using a link, with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, the device having a first port for coupling to the fabric and a second port for connecting to the link, the method comprising:
receiving a frame at the first port to be routed over the link; performing mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; and providing said mathematically operated frame to said second port for transmission over the link.
- 104. The method of claim 103, wherein said mathematical operation is encryption.
- 105. The method of claim 103, wherein said mathematical operation is compression.
- 106. The method of claim 103, wherein said mathematical operation is encryption and compression.
- 107. The method of claim 103, wherein there is a second fabric and the second device resides in the second fabric.
- 108. The method of claim 103, wherein there is a second fabric and a third device which resides in the second fabric, the third device connectable to the device using a second link, the device having a third port for connecting to the second link, the method further comprising:
providing said mathematically operated frame to said third port for transmission over the second link.
- 109. A method of operating a device for use in a fabric, the device being connected to a second device using a link, with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, the device having a first port for coupling to the fabric and a second port for connecting to said link, the method comprising:
receiving at the second port a frame over the link; performing mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; and providing said mathematically operated frame to said first port for transmission to the fabric.
- 110. The method of claim 109, wherein said mathematical operation is decryption.
- 111. The method of claim 109, wherein said mathematical operation is decompression.
- 112. The method of claim 109, wherein said mathematical operation is decryption and decompression.
- 113. The method of claim 109, wherein there is a second fabric and the second device resides in the second fabric.
- 114. The method of claim 109, wherein there is a second fabric and a third device which resides in the second fabric, the third device connectable to the device using a second link, the device having a third port for connecting to the second link, the method further comprising:
receiving a frame over the second link and providing said frame to said mathematical operations means.
- 115. A method of operating a device for use in a fabric, the device being connected to a second device using a link, with frames being transmitted over the fabric, the frames including a header and a payload, the device having a first port for coupling to the fabric and a second port for connecting to the link, the method comprising:
receiving at the first port a frame to be routed over the link; receiving at the second port a frame over the link; performing mathematical operations on the payload of said received frame; providing said mathematically operated frame to said second port for transmission over the link for frames received at said first port; and providing said mathematically operated frame to said first port for transmission to the fabric for frames received at said second port.
- 116. The method of claim 115, wherein said mathematical operations are encryption and decryption.
- 117 The method of claim 115, wherein said mathematical operations are compression and decompression.
- 118. The method of claim 115, wherein said mathematical operations are encryption, decryption, compression and decompression.
- 119. The method of claim 115, wherein there is a second fabric and the second device resides in the second fabric.
- 120. The method of claim 115, wherein there is a second fabric and a third device which resides in the second fabric, the third device connectable to the device using a second link, the device having a third port for connecting to the second link, the method further comprising:
providing said mathematically operated frame to said third port for transmission over the second link; and receiving a frame over the second link and providing said frame to said mathematical operations means.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to and incorporates by reference, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/209,742, entitled “Host Bus Adaptor-Based Virtualization Switch,” by Subhojit Roy, Richard Walter, Cirillo Lino Costantino, Naveen Maveli, Carlos Alonso, and Mike Pong, filed Aug. 31, 2002; Ser. No. 10/209,694, entitled “Hardware-Based Translating Virtualization Switch,” by Shahe H. Krakirian, Richard Walter, Subbarao Arumilli, Cirillo Lino Costantino, Vincent Isip, Subhojit Roy, Naveen Maveli, Daniel Chung, Steve Elstad, and Dennis Makishima, filed Aug. 31, 2002; and; Ser. No. 10/209,743 entitled, “Method And Apparatus For Encryption Or Compression Storage Devices Inside A Storage Area Network Fabric,” by Naveen Maveli, Richard Walter, Cirillo Lino Costantino, Subhojit Roy, Carlos Alonso, Mike Pong, Shahe H. Krakirian, Subbarao Arumilli, Vincent Isip, Daniel Chung, Steve Elstad, Dennis Makishima and Daniel Y. Chung, filed Aug. 31, 2002 such applications hereby being incorporated by reference. This application is also related to U.S. patent applications serial numbers 10/______, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Encryption of Data on Storage Units Using Devices Inside a Storage Area Network Fabric” by Richard Walter and Vincent Isip and 10/______, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Allowing Use of One of a Plurality of Functions in Devices Inside a Storage Area Network Fabric” by Vincent Isip and Richard Walter, both filed concurrently with this application.