a router for interconnecting n interfacing peripheral devices . the router comprises routing nodes coupled to one another via switching circuitry . a first routing nodes comprises : 1 ) a physical medium device module for transmitting data packets to and receiving data packets from the n interfacing peripheral devices ; 2 ) an ingress processor for receiving incoming data packets from the pmd module ; 3 ) an egress processor for transmitting data packets to the pmd module ; and 4 ) a medium access control processor for forwarding data packets from the ingress processor to the switching circuitry and forwarding data packets from the switching circuitry to the egress processor . the mac processor determines whether a first data packet received from the ingress processor is directed to the egress processor and , if so , transfers the first data packet directly to the egress processor without forwarding the first data packet through the switching circuitry .