Run-time scalable switch fabric

A method for manufacturing a dynamically scalable switching fabric, the method comprising:

• providing N first switch fabric element (FE) interfaces, each of which is configured to receive a first FE in a manner which enables said first FE to route data packets from a first input port of the first FE to a first output port of the first FE,
• wherein from 1 to N of said N first switch fabric element interfaces are populated with a respective first FE;
• providing M second switch FE interfaces, each of which is configured to receive a second FE in a manner which enables said second FE to route data packets from a second input port of the second FE to a second output port of the second FE,
• wherein from zero to M of said M second FE interfaces are populated with a respective second FE;
• and
• providing a reconfigurable crossbar element, connected to said N first switch FE interfaces and to said M second switch FEs, which reconfigurable crossbar element is configurable to interconnect populated first and second FE interfaces.

A dynamically scalable processing system comprising:

• a plurality of blade processors;
• a switch having:
• N first switch fabric element (FE) interfaces, each of which is configured to receive a first FE in a manner which enables said first FE to route data packets from a first input port of the first FE to a first output port of the first FE, wherein from 1 to N of said N first switch fabric element interfaces are populated with a respective first FE;
• M second switch FE interfaces, each of which is configured to receive a second FE in a manner which enables said second FE to route data packets from a second input port of the second FE to a second output port of the second FE, wherein from zero to M of said M second FE interfaces are populated with a respective second FE;
• and
• a reconfigurable crossbar element, connected to said N first switch FE interfaces and to said M second switch FEs, which reconfigurable crossbar element is configurable to interconnect populated first and second FE interfaces under control of a controller connected to the reconfigurable crossbar element,
• wherein said processor blades are each connected to each of said populated first FE interfaces.