Local and remote switching in a communications network

A switch device which is adapted to be operable as a switch system in an independent standalone mode as well as being adapted to be operable in conjunction with one or more additional switch devices;

• the switch device comprising:
• a housing containing:
• an ASIC creating a switching system within the switch device, the ASIC including an ingress packet processor, an egress packet assembly device, a transmit control device and a routing device;
• whereby the ingress packet processor is disposed to receive a data packet, the routing device is adapted to route the data packet from the ingress packet processor to the egress packet assembly device and the transmit control device is disposed to control the routing of the routing device;
• an ingress port communicating with the ASIC and being connectable to one or more external computer network devices, the ingress port being a substantially standard switch port;
• an egress port communicating with the ASIC and being connectable to one or more external computer network devices, the egress port being a substantially standard switch port;
• and,
• an extender port, the extender port being connectable to another extender port in loopback fashion and being connectable to a corresponding extender port of a discrete switch device, whereby the extender port operates on a discrete protocol from the standard ports;
• whereby the ASIC is adapted to provide for alternatively transmitting a data packet locally to the egress port and remotely through the extender port.