A method for manufacturing networking devices includes providing circuit boards each having an NPU mounted to that circuit board, and respective cable connectors mounted to that circuit board and coupled to that NPU. First networking devices are manufactured by providing one of the circuit boards in a chassis in each first networking device, and cabling at least some of the cable connectors on that circuit board to first subsystem(s) in that first networking device in order to configure that first networking device to perform first functionality. Second networking devices are manufactured by providing a respective one of the circuit boards in a chassis in each second networking device, and cabling at least some of the cable connectors on that circuit board to second subsystem(s) in that second networking device in order to configure that second networking device to perform second functionality that is different than the first functionality.