A host adapter uses a scatter/gather list that includes a plurality of sections. Each section of the scatter/gather list can have any desired size. A link element in one section of the scatter/gather list is used to link to another section in the list. The link element has a format that is the same as the data elements that represent data segments in the list. Each element in the scatter/gather list includes an end-of-list flag and an end-of-section flag. When the end-of-list flag is set, the host adapter knows that the end-of-the scatter/gather list has been reached. When the end-of-section flag is set, the host adapter knows that an address to another section of the scatter/gather list is available.