N port virtualization (NPV) alleviates the domain ID limit by sharing the domain ID of the core switch among multiple edge switches. The NPV core switch, with the N port identifier virtualization (NPIV) feature enabled, provides a means to assign multiple FCIDs to a single N port. An NPV edge switch relays all traffic from server-side ports to the core switch. The core switch provides F port functionality (such as login and port security) and all the Fibre Channel switching capabilities. The edge switch shares the domain ID of the core switch. The edge switch appears as a Fibre Channel host to the core switch and as a regular Fibre Channel switch to its connected devices.