the present invention discloses an apparatus to implement a m = n non - blocking minimal spanning switch , where n = the total number of data input signals and m = the total number of data output signals and m = the number of crossbar connections in each switch . data is input to the switch as a plurality of frames , whereby each crossbar connection contains a framer which detects framing patterns in the data . skewed data is re - aligned and buffered so that the data output by each crossbar connection is equal and identical , thus any crossbar connection may be used to ensure a connection , eliminating the possibility of data interrupts .