1. An input/output (I/O) system including a plurality of processors, a plurality of I/O devices and a memory, said memory including a plurality of memory buffers, wherein said I/O system performs a) data transfer between said plurality of I/O devices and the memory, b) data transfer within the memory and c) task scheduling and I/O requests handling for I/O operations executed on said plurality of I/O devices, said I/O system comprising: memory interface means a): for transferring a continuous block of a plurality of data values between the memory and the I/O system; and b): responsive to a control signal for i) receiving said continuous block of said plurality of data values from said memory beginning at a starting address in said memory, ii) modifying only selected data values of said continuous block of said plurality of data values received from said memory to create a continuous block of a further plurality of data values, and iii) replacing, beginning at said starting address, said continuous block of said plurality of data values in said memory with said continuous block of said further plurality of data values; I/O unit (IOU) means for queuing said I/O requests for said I/O operations as said I/O requests are received, selecting one of a plurality of paths within said I/O system for each of said I/O operations, collecting statistics on operation of said plurality of I/O devices and maintaining a list of said plurality of I/O devices; data transfer unit (DTU) means for moving data among said plurality of memory buffers responsive to commands from said I/O unit means; task control unit (TCU) means for maintaining the status of tasks on the system and for signalling each one of said plurality of processors to execute a respective one of said tasks which is in an executable state; and channel manager unit (CMU) means for receiving data from channels associated with said plurality of I/O devices and for transferring said data to said memory interface means.