In one embodiment, a node comprises a plurality of IEEE 1394 subnet interfaces for communicating over a plurality of IEEE 1394 buses. Each of the plurality of IEEE 1394 subnet interfaces comprises a respective IEEE 1394 physical layer and IEEE 1394 link layer for communicating over a respective one of the plurality of IEEE 1394 buses. At least the IEEE 1394 physical layers for the plurality of subnet interfaces do not share hardware. The node further comprises at least one programmable processor that executes software that comprises common network layer functionality that interacts with all of the plurality of IEEE 1394 subnet interfaces and routes IEEE 1394 data packets among the plurality of IEEE 1394 buses.