High speed network device with orthogonal pluggable optics modules

A network switch comprising:

• an enclosure comprising a chassis and a front panel;
• and
• a switch card assembly comprising:
• a switch printed circuit card (PCB) arranged vertically within the chassis in parallel relation to the front panel;
• one or more switch chips mounted on the switch PCB;
• a plurality of airflow cutouts formed through the switch PCB;
• a plurality of pluggable module connectors mounted on the switch PCB, each pluggable module connector substantially aligned with a respective airflow cutout, wherein one or more lines of connector pins of said each pluggable module connector are substantially parallel to a long axis of the respective airflow cutout;
• the switch PCB having a plurality of PCB traces that connect the one or more switch chips to the plurality of pluggable module connectors, wherein the PCB traces include segments that cross a periphery of the pluggable module connectors and lie substantially parallel to rows of connector pins of the pluggable module connectors,
• wherein, when a pluggable module is received in a given pluggable module connector, the respective airflow cutout is in line with a heat sink of the pluggable module,
• wherein each pluggable module connector is mounted in perpendicular relation to the switch PCB so that a front end of said each pluggable module connector is accessible through the front panel of the network switch.