Patent ID: 7656898

Claim:
A switch comprising: a first port for connection to a first external device and capable of transferring packets and operating using a plurality of virtual channels, wherein virtual channels designate logical subdivisions of a link and are not used for routing of packets; a second port for connection to a second external device and capable of transferring packets and operating using a plurality of virtual channels; switching logic connected to said first port and said second port for transferring packets between said first and second ports; control logic coupled to said first port and said second port to configure said first port to operate using a first number of virtual channels and said second port to operate using a second number of virtual channels, wherein the first number is not equal to the second number; and remapping logic coupled to said first port, said second port and said switching logic, said remapping logic including and utilizing a table to remap the first number of virtual channels to the second number of virtual channels.