Abstract: A network is disclosed that includes a first subnetwork including a first plurality of nodes interconnected by a first plurality of links, with nodes in the first plurality having a first capacity. A second subnetwork includes a second plurality of nodes interconnected by a second plurality of links, with nodes in the second plurality having a second capacity, and with the second capacity being higher than the first capacity. A third plurality of links is also provided between nodes in the first subnetwork and the second subnetwork.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of routing traffic through a network with a plurality of nodes which comprises classifying network traffic into a plurality of classes, including interior, interior-to-exterior, exterior-to-interior, and transitory. At each node of the network, a packet, designated as belonging to a traffic class and including a source node address and a destination node address, is received. The packet is indexed into the node's packet switch matrix using the traffic class designation, source node address, and destination node address to obtain a node link number for forwarding the packet. Then, the packet is forwarded upon a link indicated by the node link number.