An integrated assembly (400, 500, 600, 700, 800) for switching optical signals, the integrated assembly comprising: a first subassembly (410, 510, 610, 710, 810) comprising 1) a first plurality of optical interfaces (LIC1-10) configured to support communication of optical channels to and from the integrated assembly (400, 500, 600, 700, 800) using the first subassembly (410, 510, 610, 710, 810), 2) a first set of one or more switch fabric assemblies comprising a first particular switch fabric assembly that includes a) a first particular switching mechanism (SFIC1) and b) a first particular plurality of transceivers (401A-410A, 501A-510A, 601A-610A, 701A-710A, 801A-810A); and 3) a first plurality of electrical connections communicatively coupling the first plurality of optical interfaces (LIC1-10) to the first set of one or more switch fabric assemblies; and a second subassembly (420, 520, 620, 720, 820) comprising 1) a second plurality of optical interfaces (LIC1-10) configured to support communication of optical channels to and from the integrated assembly using the second subassembly (420,520,620,720,820), 2) a second set of one or more switch fabric assemblies comprising a second particular switch fabric assembly that includes a) a second particular switching mechanism (SFIC1) and b) a second particular plurality of transceivers (401B-410B, 501B-510B, 601B-610B, 701B-710B, 801B-810B); and 3) a second plurality of electrical connections communicatively coupling the second plurality of optical interfaces to the second set of one or more switch fabric assemblies; wherein a first subset of the first plurality of electrical connections are electrically coupled to the first particular switch fabric assembly, a first portion of the first subset of the first plurality of electrical connections being electrically connected to the first particular switching mechanism (SFIC1), and a second portion of the first subset of the first plurality of electrical connections bypassing the first particular switching mechanism (SFIC1) and being communicatively coupled to the second subassembly (420, 520, 620, 720, 820) through at least some of the first particular plurality of transceivers (401A-410A, 501A-510A, 601A-610A, 701A-710A, 801A-810A) on the first particular switch fabric assembly on the first subassembly (410, 510, 610, 710, 810), and wherein the first particular switching mechanism (SFIC1) is also communicatively coupled to the second subassembly (420, 520, 620, 720, 820) through at least some of the first particular plurality of transceivers (401A-410A, 501A-510A, 601A-610A, 701A-710A, 801A-810A) on the first particular switch fabric assembly on the first subassembly (410, 510, 610, 710, 810). a first subassembly (410, 510, 610, 710, 810) comprising 1) a first plurality of optical interfaces (LIC1-10) configured to support communication of optical channels to and from the integrated assembly (400, 500, 600, 700, 800) using the first subassembly (410, 510, 610, 710, 810), 2) a first set of one or more switch fabric assemblies comprising a first particular switch fabric assembly that includes a) a first particular switching mechanism (SFIC1) and b) a first particular plurality of transceivers (401A-410A, 501A-510A, 601A-610A, 701A-710A, 801A-810A); and 3) a first plurality of electrical connections communicatively coupling the first plurality of optical interfaces (LIC1-10) to the first set of one or more switch fabric assemblies; and a second subassembly (420, 520, 620, 720, 820) comprising 1) a second plurality of optical interfaces (LIC1-10) configured to support communication of optical channels to and from the integrated assembly using the second subassembly (420,520,620,720,820), 2) a second set of one or more switch fabric assemblies comprising a second particular switch fabric assembly that includes a) a second particular switching mechanism (SFIC1) and b) a second particular plurality of transceivers (401B-410B, 501B-510B, 601B-610B, 701B-710B, 801B-810B); and 3) a second plurality of electrical connections communicatively coupling the second plurality of optical interfaces to the second set of one or more switch fabric assemblies; wherein a first subset of the first plurality of electrical connections are electrically coupled to the first particular switch fabric assembly, a first portion of the first subset of the first plurality of electrical connections being electrically connected to the first particular switching mechanism (SFIC1), and a second portion of the first subset of the first plurality of electrical connections bypassing the first particular switching mechanism (SFIC1) and being communicatively coupled to the second subassembly (420, 520, 620, 720, 820) through at least some of the first particular plurality of transceivers (401A-410A, 501A-510A, 601A-610A, 701A-710A, 801A-810A) on the first particular switch fabric assembly on the first subassembly (410, 510, 610, 710, 810), and wherein the first particular switching mechanism (SFIC1) is also communicatively coupled to the second subassembly (420, 520, 620, 720, 820) through at least some of the first particular plurality of transceivers (401A-410A, 501A-510A, 601A-610A, 701A-710A, 801A-810A) on the first particular switch fabric assembly on the first subassembly (410, 510, 610, 710, 810).