Abstract: In general, an optical cross-connect switching system comprising a switch subsystem, an input/output (I/O) subsystem including a plurality of removable, I/O port modules, and a switch control subsystem featuring servo modules. These units collectively operate to provide optical data paths for routing of light signals without conversion from optical to electrical domains and back to optical. Also, the optical cross-connect switching system is scalable because the I/O port modules, servo modules and even features of the switch subsystem may be removed without disruption in system operation.