Abstract: A configuration and control unit (CACU) is described for a heterogeneous multi-system containing processors which may be of different types, channels, one or more channel crossbar switches which may be of different sizes, various I/O channel switches, I/O control units and I/O devices. The CACU is the focal point in the multi-system for configuration control over all of these system heterogeneous components. The CACU enables the configuration of any switchable part of the entire multi-system to be established and changed at any time due to new processing requirements or failure of part or all of the system.The CACU contains a parallel wire line (PWL) adapter for providing DC switching control over components connected through channel crossbar switches and/or channel I/O switches. The CACU also has a time multiplexed (TM) adapter connected via serial time multiplexed lines (TML's) to remote modem adapters (RM's) with devices controlled by or switched by the CACU.