Method for fixed and replaceable module architecture

A method comprising:

• producing a circuit board;
• determining whether the circuit board is to be populated to provide a first set of customer connectors or a first set of intermediate connectors;
• when the circuit board is unpopulated and is to be populated to provide the first set of customer connectors, performing the following:
• populating the circuit board with the first set of customer connectors
• populating the circuit board with interface electronics to support an interface for the first set of customer connectors;
• installing the circuit board in a customer-connector-compatible enclosure compatible with the first set of customer connectors;
• when the circuit board is unpopulated and is to be populated to provide a first set of intermediate connectors, performing the following:
• populating the circuit board with the first set of intermediate connectors;
• installing module guides of a guide system on the circuit board;
• installing the circuit board in an intermediate-connector-compatible enclosure compatible with the first set of intermediate connectors;
• and
• when the circuit board has been populated to provide the first set of customer connectors and is to be populated to provide the first set of intermediate connectors, performing the following:
• removing the circuit board from the customer-connector-compatible enclosure;
• removing the first set of customer connectors;
• populating the circuit board with the first set of intermediate connectors;
• installing the module guides of the guide system on the circuit board;
• installing the circuit board in the intermediate-connector-compatible enclosure compatible with the first set of intermediate connectors.