A method and a fiber channel switch element for processing
receive-modify-send ("RMS") frames in a fiber channel network are
provided. The method includes, determining if a received frame is a RMS
frame; modifying the RMS frame without copying the RMS frame to a
transmit buffer; and transmitting the modified frame. The RMS frame is
modified in a receive buffer before being sent to the transmit buffer and
a port state machine controls the receive buffer where RMS frames are
modified. The switch element includes a port having a state machine that
determines if a received frame needs to be modified before being
transmitted, and if the frame is to be modified then such modification
occurs in a receive buffer without being copied to a transmit buffer
before such modification. A buffer select logic selects the appropriate
buffer for modifying and transmitting frames from.