A data center switch, comprising: a network switch comprising a set of primary ports, and a set of alternate ports, a switch logic and a control processor, wherein each port within the set of primary ports includes a transceiver and a connector to connect with an external data transmission medium; wherein each port within the set of alternate ports includes a transceiver and a connector to connect with an external data transmission medium; the switch logic unit is configured to interface with a finite number of ports, wherein the number of ports in the set of primary ports plus the number of ports in the set of alternate ports is greater than the number of finite ports; a data path interconnection unit (300, 302) physically connected to the set of primary ports and the set of alternate ports by a set of port data paths; and physically connected to the switch logic unit by a set of switch logic data paths, wherein the number of port data paths in the set of port data paths is equal to the number of primary ports plus the number of alternate ports, and wherein the number of switch logic data paths in the set of switch logic data paths is equal to the finite number of ports interfacing with the switch logic unit; and the control processor is operatively connected to the path interconnection unit and the switch logic unit, wherein the control processor is configured to control the switch logic unit to switch data on one switch logic data path to another switch logic data path, wherein the control processor is configured to control the data path interconnection unit so that the primary ports are set to an active state, such that: data received at the primary ports and transferred to one or more port data paths is directed to one switch logic data path; or data on one switch logic data path is directed to one or more port data paths, and transmitted by one or more primary ports; and wherein the control processor is configured to control the data path interconnection unit so that the alternate ports are set to an active state and to control the data path interconnection unit such that when a primary port becomes inoperable the inoperable primary port is removed from the active state and one of the alternate ports is set to an active state, such that: data received at the active alternate port and transferred to one or more port data paths is directed to one switch logic data path; or data on one switch logic data path is directed to one or more port data paths and transmitted by the active alternate ports. a network switch comprising a set of primary ports, and a set of alternate ports, a switch logic and a control processor, wherein each port within the set of primary ports includes a transceiver and a connector to connect with an external data transmission medium; wherein each port within the set of alternate ports includes a transceiver and a connector to connect with an external data transmission medium; the switch logic unit is configured to interface with a finite number of ports, wherein the number of ports in the set of primary ports plus the number of ports in the set of alternate ports is greater than the number of finite ports; a data path interconnection unit (300, 302) physically connected to the set of primary ports and the set of alternate ports by a set of port data paths; and physically connected to the switch logic unit by a set of switch logic data paths, wherein the number of port data paths in the set of port data paths is equal to the number of primary ports plus the number of alternate ports, and wherein the number of switch logic data paths in the set of switch logic data paths is equal to the finite number of ports interfacing with the switch logic unit; and the control processor is operatively connected to the path interconnection unit and the switch logic unit, wherein the control processor is configured to control the switch logic unit to switch data on one switch logic data path to another switch logic data path, wherein the control processor is configured to control the data path interconnection unit so that the primary ports are set to an active state, such that: data received at the primary ports and transferred to one or more port data paths is directed to one switch logic data path; or data on one switch logic data path is directed to one or more port data paths, and transmitted by one or more primary ports; data received at the primary ports and transferred to one or more port data paths is directed to one switch logic data path; or data on one switch logic data path is directed to one or more port data paths, and transmitted by one or more primary ports; and wherein the control processor is configured to control the data path interconnection unit so that the alternate ports are set to an active state and to control the data path interconnection unit such that when a primary port becomes inoperable the inoperable primary port is removed from the active state and one of the alternate ports is set to an active state, such that: data received at the active alternate port and transferred to one or more port data paths is directed to one switch logic data path; or data on one switch logic data path is directed to one or more port data paths and transmitted by the active alternate ports. data received at the active alternate port and transferred to one or more port data paths is directed to one switch logic data path; or data on one switch logic data path is directed to one or more port data paths and transmitted by the active alternate ports.