It should be understood that the random selection of a particular stage switch module will be performed for the set of stage switch modules that allow for delivery of a data cell to its destination, and will exclude remaining stage switch modules from which deliver of the data cell to its destination is not possible. For example, if a destination can be reached from certain third stage switch modules 216 but not other third stage switch modules 216, then the second stage switch module 214 performing random selection can randomly select from those certain third stage switch modules 216 but exclude the others.