A method includes comparing a length of a first packet to a threshold, determining that the first packet is a short packet when the length of the first packet is less than the threshold, and determining that the first packet is a long packet when the length of the first packet is greater than or equal to the threshold. The method also includes when the first packet is a long packet placing the first packet in a long packet container and transmitting the long packet container to a photonic switch. Additionally, the method includes when the first packet is a short packet placing a first portion of the first packet in a first short packet container, where the first short packet container includes a sequence number, a source top-of-rack switch (TOR) address, and a destination TOR address and transmitting the first short packet container to an electronic switch.