An optical apparatus for switching multi-channel optical signals having spectral channels of different wavelengths comprising: an MxN array of fiber collimator ports for optical signals having one or more of said spectral channels, wherein M is a number of columns and N is a number of rows of the array of fiber collimator ports , wherein M is greater than or equal to 2 and N is greater than or equal to 3, wherein the array of fiber collimator ports is configured such that there is a gap within each column of ports, the gap located between two rows of ports, wherein the gap is wide enough to permit a hitless beam switching trajectory to pass between the two rows of ports from one side of the array of fiber collimator ports , to an opposite side. wherein the array of fiber collimator ports is configured such that each of the columns contains two or more adjacent rows without a gap wide enough to permit the hitless beam switching trajectory to pass between two rows of the two or more adjacent rows a wavelength separator optically coupled to the array of fiber collimator ports , wherein the wavelength separator is configured to spatially separate a spectral beam from one of the fiber collimator ports in the array into one or more constituent spectral channels; and an array of channel beam deflecting elements optically coupled to the wavelength separator , the array of channel beam deflecting elements including a plurality of channel beam deflecting elements that are each positioned to receive a corresponding one of the constituent spectral channels, wherein each beam deflecting element is configured to tilt about two non-parallel axes to move the corresponding spectral channel across the array of fiber collimator ports . an MxN array of fiber collimator ports for optical signals having one or more of said spectral channels, wherein M is a number of columns and N is a number of rows of the array of fiber collimator ports , wherein M is greater than or equal to 2 and N is greater than or equal to 3, wherein the array of fiber collimator ports is configured such that there is a gap within each column of ports, the gap located between two rows of ports, wherein the gap is wide enough to permit a hitless beam switching trajectory to pass between the two rows of ports from one side of the array of fiber collimator ports , to an opposite side. wherein the array of fiber collimator ports is configured such that each of the columns contains two or more adjacent rows without a gap wide enough to permit the hitless beam switching trajectory to pass between two rows of the two or more adjacent rows a wavelength separator optically coupled to the array of fiber collimator ports , wherein the wavelength separator is configured to spatially separate a spectral beam from one of the fiber collimator ports in the array into one or more constituent spectral channels; and an array of channel beam deflecting elements optically coupled to the wavelength separator , the array of channel beam deflecting elements including a plurality of channel beam deflecting elements that are each positioned to receive a corresponding one of the constituent spectral channels, wherein each beam deflecting element is configured to tilt about two non-parallel axes to move the corresponding spectral channel across the array of fiber collimator ports . <EOS>