1. A method of transmitting a packet from a source switch module to a destination switch module, comprising: retrieving path information specifying a route to the destination switch module; creating a packet that includes (i) at least a portion of the path information and (ii) a set of load/store operations to be executed by the destination switch module; transmitting the packet to a first switch module using a first port, the first port specified in the retrieved path information, wherein the first switch module is configured to transmit the packet based on the at least a portion of the path information in the packet, and wherein the destination switch module is configured, upon receiving the packet, to copy the set of load/store operations into an execution buffer to be automatically executed; and receiving, from the destination switch module, an acknowledgement message comprising the packet, indicating that the set of load/store operations have been executed successfully.