Pluggable patch panel

A network comprising:

• at least one network element in a set consisting of a network bridge, a network switch, and a network router;
• a pluggable patch panel that includes:
• a first set of network ports;
• a second set of network ports, each network port in the first set and the second set having contacts to accept an incoming data stream from an inserted pluggable module or active cable connector and contacts to provide an outgoing data stream to that pluggable module or active cable connector;
• and
• circuit traces that directly connect incoming data stream contacts of each network port in the first set to the outgoing data stream contacts of a respective network port in the second set and that directly connect outgoing data stream contacts of each network port in the first set to the incoming data stream contacts of the respective network port in the second set;
• and
• a set of network cables that couples the first set of network ports to corresponding ports of the at least one network element.

A pluggable patch panel that comprises:

• a first set of network ports;
• and
• a second set of network ports, each network port in the first set and the second set having a transceiver configured to convey an outgoing data stream to a pluggable module or network cable connector and an incoming data stream from that pluggable module or network cable connector,
• each network port in the first set coupled to a respective network port in the second set,
• the outgoing data stream from each network port in the first set representing the respective network port's incoming data stream and the incoming data stream to each network port in the first set sourcing the respective network port's outgoing data stream,
• wherein the pluggable patch panel further comprises:
• a chassis with the first and second sets positioned on a front panel, the chassis having standard 1U or 2U rack unit dimensions, the chassis including circuitry to connect each transceiver in the second set of network ports to the transceiver of the respective port in the first set of network ports without any intermediate circuitry that implements a network bridge, network switch, or network router;
• a power supply and a cooling system;
• and
• a network management controller coupled to the transceivers of the first and second sets of network ports.