a transparent switch is able to emulate the arbitration and addressing steps for devices that are normally connected to a bus - type communications network . the switch is connected to the devices in a star - type arrangement , with each device connected to a separate port . the switch performs the arbitration and addressing communications with a transmitting device , selects the proper port as defined by the addressing communication , arbitrates with the receiving device , and then switches the communications to occur directly from the transmitting device to the receiving device .