a standard port on a first routing platform, with the standard port adapted to receive a standard connector including a memory device holding identification information that indicates whether the standard connector is a standard network connector operating at a standard network rate or a stacking connector, utilized to form a stack connection with other routing platforms in a stack, operating at a higher rate; and

a controller, coupled to the standard port, adapted to read the identification information from the memory device of a standard connector plugged into the standard port to detect whether the standard connector is a stacking connector configured to transfer data through the standard port at the higher rate or whether the standard connector is a standard network connector configured to transfer data at the slower network rate; and

with the controller further adapted to either utilize the standard port on the first routing platform as a standard network port configured to receive and transmit packets to a network connected to the first standard port if the controller detects that the standard connector is a standard network connector or to utilize the standard port as a stack port configured to be connected a second routing platform in the stack if the controller determines that the standard connector is a stacking connector.