Low-latency network switching device with latency identification and diagnostics

A system, comprising:

• a replicator chip to replicate incoming data from an input port to one or more output ports;
• a switch chip, operatively coupled to the replicator chip, the switch chip to receive a copy of the incoming data, wherein the switch chip and the replicator chip are selectively coupled based on configuration data received from a user, and wherein:
• in a first configuration according to the configuration data, data received by the switch chip is forwarded by the switch chip without replication by the replicator chip;
• and
• in a second configuration according to the configuration data, incoming data received by the replicator chip is replicated to the one or more output ports without being forwarded by the switch chip.

A method, comprising:

• receiving configuration data indicating one or more functionalities of a network device;
• configuring, by a processing device, a plurality of external ports of one or more of an L1 switch, an L2+L3 switch, or a logic device to enable one or more of L1-replication or L1 multiplexor operations, based on the configuration data;
• and
• configuring, by the processing device, one or more internal links and resources based on the configuration data, wherein:
• in a first configuration according to the configuration data, data received by an external port of the plurality of external ports is passed through to the L2+L3 switch and is forwarded by the L2+L3 switch without replication by the L1 switch;
• and
• in a second configuration according to the configuration data, data received by an external port of the plurality of external ports is replicated to the plurality of external ports without being forwarded by the L2+L3 switch.