Abstract: A data switching system is described to allow arbitrary types of connections to be established over arbitrary link types that include link types that do not inherently support virtual circuits. The data switching system includes a label switching system to establish virtual circuit connections over any link types. The data switching system also includes a connection routing and signaling controller, coupled to the label switching system to determine routes for connection over any link types.

Abstract: A connection control interface for switches in a network is provided. The connection control interface allows the multiservice switch to provide a number of switch resource partitions to a number of independent controllers coupled to the switch. The switch resource partitions comprise a number of subsets of switch resources that define a number of independent subset networks of a physical network. The connection control interface allows the independent controllers to control the connections of the switch using the number of switch resource partitions. The independent controllers each use one of a number of control systems, the control systems comprising a network software level. The independent controllers comprise a virtual switch interface having a master component and a slave component where the master and slave components may be hosted on different processors. The slave components may be hosted on a control card that controls a number of port cards of the switch or on a port card processor.