Storage area network (SAN) switches having greater storage capacity to
allow greater data logging and storage of larger, more complicated tables
for zoning and other table-based applications. A hard disk drive can be
included in the switch, with data logging performed to the hard disk
drive and with the hard disk drive serving as a second level of
virtualization to provide storage of large tables. In a variation, the
data logging of the switch, and any other devices on the SAN, can be
directed to an area or areas of one or more storage units attached to the
SAN.