Optical data switching circuitry, comprising: a processing element configured to generate a plurality of optical signals; and an optical switch (112; 535), configured to: transmit the optical signals to a fiber optic router (130; 510) for relay to different destinations; switch between transmission locations for transmission of the optical signals over different optical connections for the destinations, the optical connections between the optical switch (112; 535) and different receiving ports of the fiber optic router (130; 510), receive a plurality of inbound optical signals from the fiber optic router (130; 510) for relay to the processing element; and switch between receive directions for the reception of the inbound optical signals over different inbound optical connections between the optical switch (112; 535) and different transmitting ports of the fiber optic router (130; 510), wherein: the transmission locations are switched sequentially in accordance with a predetermined mapping between the receiving ports and the destinations to achieve sequential transmission of the optical signals in non-overlapping time periods between the receiving ports and the destinations, the receive directions are switched sequentially in accordance with a predetermined mapping between the transmitting ports and a group of sources of the inbound optical signals to achieve sequential transmission of the optical signals in non-overlapping time periods between the transmitting ports and a group of sources of the inbound optical signals, and the inbound optical signals are received over the inbound optical connections in accordance with a free space optical coupling between the transmitting ports and the optical switch (112; 535). a processing element configured to generate a plurality of optical signals; and an optical switch (112; 535), configured to: transmit the optical signals to a fiber optic router (130; 510) for relay to different destinations; switch between transmission locations for transmission of the optical signals over different optical connections for the destinations, the optical connections between the optical switch (112; 535) and different receiving ports of the fiber optic router (130; 510), transmit the optical signals to a fiber optic router (130; 510) for relay to different destinations; switch between transmission locations for transmission of the optical signals over different optical connections for the destinations, the optical connections between the optical switch (112; 535) and different receiving ports of the fiber optic router (130; 510), receive a plurality of inbound optical signals from the fiber optic router (130; 510) for relay to the processing element; and switch between receive directions for the reception of the inbound optical signals over different inbound optical connections between the optical switch (112; 535) and different transmitting ports of the fiber optic router (130; 510), wherein: the transmission locations are switched sequentially in accordance with a predetermined mapping between the receiving ports and the destinations to achieve sequential transmission of the optical signals in non-overlapping time periods between the receiving ports and the destinations, the receive directions are switched sequentially in accordance with a predetermined mapping between the transmitting ports and a group of sources of the inbound optical signals to achieve sequential transmission of the optical signals in non-overlapping time periods between the transmitting ports and a group of sources of the inbound optical signals, and the inbound optical signals are received over the inbound optical connections in accordance with a free space optical coupling between the transmitting ports and the optical switch (112; 535). the transmission locations are switched sequentially in accordance with a predetermined mapping between the receiving ports and the destinations to achieve sequential transmission of the optical signals in non-overlapping time periods between the receiving ports and the destinations, the receive directions are switched sequentially in accordance with a predetermined mapping between the transmitting ports and a group of sources of the inbound optical signals to achieve sequential transmission of the optical signals in non-overlapping time periods between the transmitting ports and a group of sources of the inbound optical signals, and the inbound optical signals are received over the inbound optical connections in accordance with a free space optical coupling between the transmitting ports and the optical switch (112; 535).