A switch device includes two cascade ports each connected to another switch device; at least one direct port connected to a storage medium; a hop-count determining unit that determines whether a frame input from one cascade port has already gone through a predetermined number of switch devices; an output unit that outputs the frame from another cascade port when it is determined that the frame has not gone through the predetermined number of switch devices; and a port determining unit that determines a direct port for outputting the frame when it is determined that the frame has already gone through the predetermined number of switch devices.