Method and System for Addressing a Plurality of Ethernet Controllers Integrated into a Single Chip Which Utilizes a Single Bus Interface

A system for arbitrating access to a shared resource, comprising:

• a bus interface;
• a first network controller for handling a first host function associated with a first host process;
• a second network controller for handling a second host function associated with a second host process;
• and
• an arbitrator for granting access to the shared resource for one of the first host process and the second host process, and facilitating a transfer of information to and from the bus interface and the shared resource,
• wherein the first network controller and the second network controller are integrated within a single chip.

A method of arbitrating access to a shared resource, comprising:

• receiving a request to access the shared resource from a first requester;
• receiving a request to access the shared resource from a second requester;
• granting access to the shared resource to the first requester;
• denying access to the shared resource to a second requester;
• and
• facilitating a transfer of information, according to the first requester, to and from a bus interface and the shared resource.