A switch is provided which may include a plurality of ports, a plurality of link up/down detection logic units and a configuration validation checker. Each link up/down detection logic unit may be associated with a port and may detect a change in the state of a link associated with the port. The configuration validation checker couples to each of the link up/down detection logic units and may cause the switch to change its routing behavior with regard to a port for which a link up/down detection unit has detected a state change.