An access system comprising: a plurality of line cards including a first line card and a second line card, wherein the first line card comprises a physical layer module configured to receive a first packet, and a first interface control module configured to generate a first request signal to transfer the first packet, wherein the first request signal comprises an identifier of a second interface control module in the second line card; and a plurality of crossbar modules separate from the plurality of line cards, wherein the plurality of crossbar modules comprise a first crossbar module and a second crossbar module, wherein the first crossbar module comprises a scheduler module, wherein the second crossbar module is configured to transfer a plurality of packets between a pair of the plurality of line cards, and wherein the plurality of packets includes the first packet, wherein: the scheduler module is separate from the plurality of line cards and the scheduler module is configured to, based on the first request signal, schedule the transfer of the first packet or the plurality of packets from the first interface control module, through the second crossbar module, and to the second interface control module; the scheduler module is configured to (i) select a crossbar module for the first packet, and (ii) generate an acknowledgement signal; the acknowledgement signal includes (i) a link identifier for the selected crossbar module, and (ii) a link identifier for the second interface control module; the first interface control module is configured to, based on the link identifier of the selected crossbar module, forward the first packet to the selected crossbar module; and the selected crossbar module is configured to, based on the link identifier of the second interface control module, forward the first packet to the second interface control module. a plurality of line cards including a first line card and a second line card, wherein the first line card comprises a physical layer module configured to receive a first packet, and a first interface control module configured to generate a first request signal to transfer the first packet, wherein the first request signal comprises an identifier of a second interface control module in the second line card; and a physical layer module configured to receive a first packet, and a first interface control module configured to generate a first request signal to transfer the first packet, wherein the first request signal comprises an identifier of a second interface control module in the second line card; and a plurality of crossbar modules separate from the plurality of line cards, wherein the plurality of crossbar modules comprise a first crossbar module and a second crossbar module, wherein the first crossbar module comprises a scheduler module, wherein the second crossbar module is configured to transfer a plurality of packets between a pair of the plurality of line cards, and wherein the plurality of packets includes the first packet, wherein: the scheduler module is separate from the plurality of line cards and the scheduler module is configured to, based on the first request signal, schedule the transfer of the first packet or the plurality of packets from the first interface control module, through the second crossbar module, and to the second interface control module; the scheduler module is configured to (i) select a crossbar module for the first packet, and (ii) generate an acknowledgement signal; the acknowledgement signal includes (i) a link identifier for the selected crossbar module, and (ii) a link identifier for the second interface control module; the first interface control module is configured to, based on the link identifier of the selected crossbar module, forward the first packet to the selected crossbar module; and the selected crossbar module is configured to, based on the link identifier of the second interface control module, forward the first packet to the second interface control module. the scheduler module is separate from the plurality of line cards and the scheduler module is configured to, based on the first request signal, schedule the transfer of the first packet or the plurality of packets from the first interface control module, through the second crossbar module, and to the second interface control module; the scheduler module is configured to (i) select a crossbar module for the first packet, and (ii) generate an acknowledgement signal; the acknowledgement signal includes (i) a link identifier for the selected crossbar module, and (ii) a link identifier for the second interface control module; the first interface control module is configured to, based on the link identifier of the selected crossbar module, forward the first packet to the selected crossbar module; and the selected crossbar module is configured to, based on the link identifier of the second interface control module, forward the first packet to the second interface control module.