Patent ID: 8705500

Claim:
A method, comprising: installing an interface card having a first module of a switch fabric and a second module of the switch fabric in a first chassis within a first time period; installing an interface card having a third module of the switch fabric in the first chassis within the first time period, the switch fabric being in a first configuration after the first time period and before a second time period, the switch fabric being operable as a three-stage switch fabric when in the first configuration; removing the interface card having the third module from the first chassis within the second time period; installing an interface card having a fourth module of the switch fabric and a fifth module of the switch fabric in the first chassis within the second time period, the switch fabric being in a transitional configuration after the second time period but before a third time period, the switch fabric being operable as a three-stage switch fabric when in the transitional configuration; installing the interface card having the third module, which was removed from the first chassis, in a second chassis within the third time period, the third module being associated with a second stage of the switch fabric when the switch fabric is in the first configuration, the third module being associated with a third stage of the switch fabric when the switch fabric is in a third configuration; and operatively coupling the first chassis with the second chassis within the third time period, the switch fabric being in the third configuration after the third time period, the switch fabric being operable as a five-stage switch fabric when in the third configuration.