A method and system for routing fiber channel frames using a fiber channel switch element is provided. The switch element includes, a hashing module whose output is used to select the column from a look up table to route frames. The method includes, indexing a look up table using domain, area, virtual storage area network identifier, a hashing module output and/or AL_PA values; selecting a column from the look up table based on a column select signal; and routing a frame if a route is valid. The hashing module takes a fiber channel header to generate a pseudo random value used for selecting a column from the look up table. The hashing module uses same field values in an exchange to generate the pseudo random value. A hash function is used on a frame's OX_ID, D_ID, S_ID, and/or RX_ID to route fiber channel frames.