System architecture of optical switching fabric

An optical switch comprising:

• a first plurality of ports;
• a second plurality of ports;
• a first plurality of mirrors disposed on a first surface;
• a second plurality of mirrors disposed on a second surface;
• a dichroic optical element,
• wherein each one of the first plurality of mirrors is individually controllable to direct light incident from a corresponding one of the first plurality of ports to any one of the second plurality of mirrors via the dichroic optical element, and
• wherein each one of the second plurality of mirrors is individually controllable to direct to a corresponding one of the second plurality of ports, light incident from any one of the first plurality of mirrors;
• a first sensor located to detect the intensity of light incident from the first plurality of ports that has not been reflected by the first plurality of mirrors or by the second plurality of mirrors;
• and
• a second sensor located to detect the intensity of light backscattered into the switch from the second plurality of ports.

An optical switch comprising:

• a first plurality of ports;
• a second plurality of ports;
• a first plurality of mirrors disposed on a first surface;
• a second plurality of mirrors disposed on a second surface;
• a dichroic optical element,
• wherein each one of the first plurality of mirrors is individually controllable to direct light incident from a corresponding one of the first plurality of ports to any one of the second plurality of mirrors via the dichroic optical element, and
• wherein each one of the second plurality of mirrors is individually controllable to direct to a corresponding one of the second plurality of ports, light incident from any one of the first plurality of mirrors;
• a first monitor device connected to a subset of the first plurality of ports, the first monitor device comprising a light source;
• and
• a second monitor device connected to a subset of the second plurality of ports, the second monitor device comprising a photodetector,
• wherein a subset of the first plurality of mirrors and a subset of the second plurality of mirrors are controlled such that light emitted from the first monitor device is detectable by the second monitor device.