An optical interconnect (300, 400, 500, 600), comprising: a plurality of optical sources (210, 210-1, 210- 2, 525, 530, 535, 360, 460, 625); the optical interconnect (300, 400, 500, 600) wherein the plurality of optical sources (210, 210-1, 210-2, 525, 530, 535, 360, 460, 625) comprise a plurality of optical data sources (210, 210-1, 210- 2, 525, 530, 535) and an alignment optical source (360, 460, 625); and in that it further comprises: a plurality of optical data receivers (555, 560, 565) configured to receive an optical beam from the optical data sources (210, 210-1, 210- 2, 525, 530, 535); wherein said plurality of optical data sources (525, 530, 535) are disposed on a first circuit board (305, 405, 605) and said plurality of optical data receivers (555, 560, 565) are disposed on a second circuit board (310, 410, 610) a diffractive optical element (320, 440, 670) configured to diffract an optical beam (335, 435) received from the alignment optical source (360, 460, 625) to at least one sensor (370, 375, 470, 475, 640, 645); and an aligning element configured to align optical beams (345, 445, 570, 650) from said optical data sources (525, 530, 535) such that they are received by said optical data receivers (555, 560, 565) according to measurements from said sensor (370, 375, 470, 475, 640, 645); wherein said alignment optical source (360, 460, 625) and said at least one sensor (370, 375, 470, 475, 640, 645) are disposed on one of said first (305, 405, 605) and second circuit boards (310, 410, 610), and said diffractive optical element (320, 440, 670) is disposed on another of said first (305, 405, 605) and second (310, 410, 610) circuit boards. a plurality of optical sources (210, 210-1, 210- 2, 525, 530, 535, 360, 460, 625); the optical interconnect (300, 400, 500, 600) wherein the plurality of optical sources (210, 210-1, 210-2, 525, 530, 535, 360, 460, 625) comprise a plurality of optical data sources (210, 210-1, 210- 2, 525, 530, 535) and an alignment optical source (360, 460, 625); and in that it further comprises: a plurality of optical data receivers (555, 560, 565) configured to receive an optical beam from the optical data sources (210, 210-1, 210- 2, 525, 530, 535); wherein said plurality of optical data sources (525, 530, 535) are disposed on a first circuit board (305, 405, 605) and said plurality of optical data receivers (555, 560, 565) are disposed on a second circuit board (310, 410, 610) a diffractive optical element (320, 440, 670) configured to diffract an optical beam (335, 435) received from the alignment optical source (360, 460, 625) to at least one sensor (370, 375, 470, 475, 640, 645); and an aligning element configured to align optical beams (345, 445, 570, 650) from said optical data sources (525, 530, 535) such that they are received by said optical data receivers (555, 560, 565) according to measurements from said sensor (370, 375, 470, 475, 640, 645); wherein said alignment optical source (360, 460, 625) and said at least one sensor (370, 375, 470, 475, 640, 645) are disposed on one of said first (305, 405, 605) and second circuit boards (310, 410, 610), and said diffractive optical element (320, 440, 670) is disposed on another of said first (305, 405, 605) and second (310, 410, 610) circuit boards.