A method, comprising: sending a data packet cell to a first module associated with a stage of a switch fabric, the first module having a first configuration in which received data packet cells are forwarded and a second configuration in which data packet cells are returned to a sending module, after the first module is automatically placed in the second configuration in response to a connection being made with the first module; receiving the data packet cell from the first module a first amount of time after the sending the data packet cell to the first module; sending a data packet cell to a second module associated with the stage of the switch fabric, the second module having a first configuration in which received data packet cells are forwarded and a second configuration in which data packet cells are returned to a sending module, after the second module is automatically placed in the second configuration in response to a connection being made with the second module; receiving the data packet cell from the second module a second amount of time after the sending the data packet cell to the second module, the second amount of time being less than the first amount of time, wherein the data paths to the first and second modules of the stage of the switch fabric have different lengths; sending a cell of a first data packet to the first module when the first module is in the first configuration; and sending a cell of a second data packet to the second module a third amount of time after the sending the cell of the first data packet, the third amount of time being substantially equal to a difference between half of the first amount of time and half of the second amount of time. sending a data packet cell to a first module associated with a stage of a switch fabric, the first module having a first configuration in which received data packet cells are forwarded and a second configuration in which data packet cells are returned to a sending module, after the first module is automatically placed in the second configuration in response to a connection being made with the first module; receiving the data packet cell from the first module a first amount of time after the sending the data packet cell to the first module; sending a data packet cell to a second module associated with the stage of the switch fabric, the second module having a first configuration in which received data packet cells are forwarded and a second configuration in which data packet cells are returned to a sending module, after the second module is automatically placed in the second configuration in response to a connection being made with the second module; receiving the data packet cell from the second module a second amount of time after the sending the data packet cell to the second module, the second amount of time being less than the first amount of time, wherein the data paths to the first and second modules of the stage of the switch fabric have different lengths; sending a cell of a first data packet to the first module when the first module is in the first configuration; and sending a cell of a second data packet to the second module a third amount of time after the sending the cell of the first data packet, the third amount of time being substantially equal to a difference between half of the first amount of time and half of the second amount of time.