Leaf switch module and optoelectronic switch

Various leaf switch modules including optical network interfaces, electrical network interfaces and packet processors are provided. Some of the leaf switch modules as described herein are adapted for upward transmission of signals from external client devices to an electrical fabric, and include O/E converters; other leaf switch modules are adapted for downward transmission of signals from an electrical fabric to external client devices, and include E/O converters. A third type of leaf switch as described herein is adapted for both upward and downward transmission of signals, and includes both types of converter. In addition to the leaf switch modules themselves, an optoelectronic switch containing a plurality of those leaf switches is also described.