Multi-port system and method for routing a data element within an interconnection fabric

A system and method for routing data elements from an origin to a terminus is disclosed. The switches each have a plurality of ports. These ports are numbered relative to one another, such that a first output port, adjacent to the input port, may be numbered "0", while a second output port, adjacent to the first output port, would be numbered "1", This numbering continues for each port in the switch. When a data element is received on an input port of the switch, an output port is selected based on a value contained in that received data element. In one embodiment, the value is contained within a path specification, which includes a count field and a plurality of turn fields.