Configurable switch element and methods thereof

1. A switching element, comprising:

a port from among a plurality of ports, which when configured to operate as a network protocol port sends and receives network information and when configured to operate as a storage protocol port sends and receives storage information;

wherein the port includes:

a control segment for generating a control signal for setting an operating mode of a serial and de-serializer (SERDES), wherein the operating mode of the SERDES is selected based on whether the port is configured to operate as a network protocol port or as a storage protocol port;

a storage module at a receive segment of the port for receiving and processing the storage information when the port is configured to operate as a storage protocol port; and

a network module at the receive segment for receiving and processing the network information, when the port is configured to operate as a network protocol port;

wherein the port includes a transmit network module having a bypass module for processing network information.

2. The switch element of claim 1 , wherein the port is configured to operate as an Ethernet port.

3. The switch element of claim 1 , wherein the port is configured to operate as a Fibre Channel port.

4. The switch element of claim 1 , wherein the switch element processes information complying with a converged storage and network protocol.

5. The switch element of claim 4 , wherein the converged storage and network protocol is Fibre Channel Over Ethernet.

6. The switch element of claim 1 , wherein the port is operationally coupled to a network fabric or device.

7. The switch element of claim 1 , wherein the port is operationally coupled to a storage fabric or device.

8. The switch element of claim 1 wherein the port is operationally coupled to a computing system via a converged network and storage adapter.

9. The switch element of claim 1 wherein the port includes a transmit segment having a transmit network module for processing network information, when the port is configured to operate as a network protocol port.

10. The switch element of claim 1 , wherein the port includes a transmit segment having a transmit storage module for processing storage information, when the port is configured to operate as a storage protocol port.

11. A network system, comprising:

a computing system interfacing with a converged network adapter (CNA);

a switch element interfacing with the CNA, a storage system and a network device; the switch element comprising:

a plurality of ports, where a port from among the plurality of ports when configured to operate as a network port sends and receives network information and when configured to operate as a storage port sends and receives storage information;

wherein the port includes:

a control segment for generating a control signal for setting an operating mode of a serial and de-serializer (SERDES), wherein the operating mode of the SERDES is selected based on whether the port is configured to operate as a network protocol port or as a storage protocol port;

a storage module at a receive segment of the port for receiving and processing the storage information when the port is configured to operate as a storage protocol port;

a network module at the receive segment for receiving and processing the network information, when the port is configured to operate as a network protocol port; and

a transmit segment having a transmit bypass module for processing network information, when the port is configured to operate as a network protocol port and a transmit storage module for processing storage information, when the port is configured to operate as a storage protocol port.

12. The switch element of claim 11 , wherein the port is configured to operate as an Ethernet port.

13. The switch element of claim 11 , wherein the port is configured to operate as a Fibre Channel port.

14. The switch element of claim 11 , wherein the switch element processes information complying with a converged storage and network protocol.

15. The switch element of claim 14 , wherein the converged storage and network protocol is Fibre Channel Over Ethernet.

16. A switch element comprising:

a plurality of ports, where a port from among the plurality of ports when configured to operate as an Ethernet port sends and receives network information and when configured to operate as a Fibre Channel port sends and receives storage information;

wherein the port includes:

a control segment for generating a control signal for setting an operating mode of a serial and de-serializer (SERDES), wherein the operating mode of the SERDES is selected based on whether the port is configured to operate as an Ethernet port or as a Fibre Channel port;

a storage module at a receive segment of the port for receiving and processing the storage information when the port is configured to operate as a Fibre Channel port; and

a network module at the receive segment for receiving and processing the network information, when the port is configured to operate as an Ethernet port; and

a transmit segment having a transmit network module for processing network information, when the port is configured to operate as an Ethernet port and a transmit storage module for processing storage information, when the port is configured to operate as a Fibre Channel port.

17. The switch element of claim 16 , wherein the switch element processes information complying with a converged storage and network protocol.

18. The switch element of claim 17 , wherein the converged storage and network protocol is Fibre Channel Over Ethernet.

19. The switch element of claim 16 , wherein the port is operationally coupled to a network fabric or device.

20. The switch element of claim 16 , wherein the port is operationally coupled to a storage fabric or device.