Abstract: A fully redundant linearly expandable router is comprised of first, second, third and fourth router components. Each router component includes first and second routing engines. First, second and third discrete links couple the first routing engine to the first routing engines, respectively. Fourth and fifth discrete links couple the first routing engine to the first routing engines, respectively. A sixth discrete link couples the routing engine to the routing engine. Seventh, eighth and ninth discrete links couple the second routing engine to the second routing engines, respectively. Tenth and eleventh discrete links couple the second routing engine to the second routing engines, respectively. A twelfth discrete link couples the routing engine to the router engine.

Abstract: A linearly expandable router is comprised of first, second, third and fourth router components. First, second and third discrete links couple an input side of a routing engine of the first router component (102) to an input side of a routing engine of the second, third and fourth router components. Similarly, fourth and fifth discrete links couple the input side of the routing engine for the second router component to the input side of the routing engine of the third and fourth router components, respectively. Finally, a sixth discrete link couples the input side of the routing engine for the third router component to the input side of the router engine for the fourth router component.