The Multi-Switch Interconnect Module provides support for up to two standard blade I/O modules in a double-high high-speed I/O module slot in the BC-H chassis. Each IBM BladeCenter server blade has the optional capability of accommodating one or more I/O expansion cards to provide redundant connections to the BladeCenter switch modules. The routing of the expansion card's two ports occurs through the BladeCenter's midplane to the I/O modules. One port from the expansion card is wired via the midplane to one I/O module bay, while the other port is wired to a second I/O module bay to provide redundancy against a single point of failure. The QLogic Ethernet and 4Gb FC CFFh I/O Expansion Card is used in conjunction with the Multi-Switch Interconnect Module, and requires that an Ethernet capable I/O module be installed in the left position of the Mutli-Switch Interconnect Module, and a Fiber Channel capable I/O module installed in the right position of the Multi-Switch Interconnect Module. Both switches do not need to be resident at the same time since the Fiber Channel and Ethernet networks are separate and distinct.