An apparatus comprising: a configuration determining module for determining a configuration of a data path link that is operatively coupled to a data path interface of a plurality of communication equipment data path interfaces (42, 44, 46); and a data path component configuration module, operatively coupled to the configuration determining module, for determining whether a configurable data path component, which is configurable to exchange data with the data path link and with another data path link that is operatively coupled to another data path interface of the plurality of data path interfaces (42, 44, 46), is configured compatibly with the determined configuration of the data path link, for configuring the configurable data path component to exchange data with the data path link where the configurable data path component is not configured compatibly with the determined configuration, and for allowing the configurable data path component to exchange data with the other data path link during the configuring, the apparatus being characterized in that the configuration determining module is operable to determine whether the data path link is bonded to form a single logical data path with a further data path link that is operatively coupled to a further data path interface of the plurality of data path interfaces (40, 42, 44), and the data path component configuration module is operable, where the data path link is bonded to form a single logical data path with the further data path link, to determine whether the configurable data path component is configured to exchange data with the data path link and the further data path link as a single logical data path, and, where the configurable data path component is not configured to exchange data with the data path link and the further data path link as a single logical data path, to configure the configurable data path component to exchange data with the data path link and the further data path link as a single logical data path, and to allow the configurable data path component to exchange data with the other data path link during the configuration. a configuration determining module for determining a configuration of a data path link that is operatively coupled to a data path interface of a plurality of communication equipment data path interfaces (42, 44, 46); and a data path component configuration module, operatively coupled to the configuration determining module, for determining whether a configurable data path component, which is configurable to exchange data with the data path link and with another data path link that is operatively coupled to another data path interface of the plurality of data path interfaces (42, 44, 46), is configured compatibly with the determined configuration of the data path link, for configuring the configurable data path component to exchange data with the data path link where the configurable data path component is not configured compatibly with the determined configuration, and for allowing the configurable data path component to exchange data with the other data path link during the configuring, the apparatus being characterized in that the configuration determining module is operable to determine whether the data path link is bonded to form a single logical data path with a further data path link that is operatively coupled to a further data path interface of the plurality of data path interfaces (40, 42, 44), and the data path component configuration module is operable, where the data path link is bonded to form a single logical data path with the further data path link, to determine whether the configurable data path component is configured to exchange data with the data path link and the further data path link as a single logical data path, and, where the configurable data path component is not configured to exchange data with the data path link and the further data path link as a single logical data path, to configure the configurable data path component to exchange data with the data path link and the further data path link as a single logical data path, and to allow the configurable data path component to exchange data with the other data path link during the configuration.