A computing device has several smart network interface cards (NICs) with RJ45 connectors. The smart NICs are in master-slave arrangement, where internal RJ45 connectors of the master smart NIC are connected by RJ45 cables to respective RJ45 connectors of slave smart NICs. A front RJ45 connector of the master smart NIC is connected by an RJ45 cable to a network switch that is installed in a same rack as the computing device.

A network switch comprises a first data path configured to separate a header from a payload of an incoming packet, the first data path is characterized by a reduced latency for cells of the payload without a first processing delay associated with the header in the second data path. The network switch also includes a controller configured with a first control path to transmit a control bus carrying control signals for individual cells and a second control path to transmit a data bus carrying the header and the payload, wherein the control bus is transmitted before the data bus. The network switch also includes a second data path configured to receive the control bus and the data bus separately, and to store the cells temporarily for managing the timing of the cells and handling a second processing delay associated with the header in the second data path before transmitting the packet.

A device for data handling and communication may comprise a housing, and a communication hub carried by the housing. The communication hub may include a main controller, a transceiver controller, and a plurality of transceivers. The transceivers may be positioned in communication with the transceiver controller and with hardware devices. The transceiver controller may be operable to control communication between each of the transceivers to selectively route and bridge communication between each of the hardware devices, which may be based on a control signal received from the main controller.