Abstract: A physical layer switch is provided that includes a switch cross bar for changeably interconnecting selected ports within a physical layer switch such that an optical signal can be changeably routed between selected ports, a first port in communication with the switch cross bar, and a second port in communication with the first port, wherein a signal entering the physical layer switch at the first port is routed to the switch cross bar and a mirror copy of the signal entering the physical layer switch at the first port is routed to the second port such that it does not reach the switch cross bar.