A hyperscale switch device (HSS) comprising: a plurality of input/output (I/O) switch modules instantiated on an integrated circuit in switchable communication with a plurality of direct connect switch modules (PSP SFMs) instantiated on the integrated circuit via a cross bar switch, for communicating data packets between external devices, wherein for the plurality of input/output (I/O) switch modules instantiated on the integrated circuit, each I/O switch module instantiation having on an ingress side, a forwarding engine configured to receive and forward data packet requests; and an interface responsive to the forwarding engine for communicating a data packet out from the I/O switch module according to a port number provided by the forwarding engine; wherein the forwarding engine receives a network address identifier received in a data packet at an I/O port for transmission to a destination I/O port, and determines an internal port number for routing by the switch engine out from the switch module, according to a lookup table which maps internal port numbers of the switch module with destination I/O ports corresponding to peripheral devices connected to a network.