An entry corresponding to row m and column n contains the identifier of the inner link connecting switch modules m and n , 0???m<N, and 0???m<N. When m=n, the identifier is a NULL value indicated by the symbol ???x???. [0249] The arrays 2610, 2620, and matrix 2630 of FIG. 26 contain virtually static data that change only when the modular-switch configuration is changed.