A system for interconnecting line cards attached to a networking hub is disclosed. The disclosed system operates by forming backplane networks between the line cards using shared data path resources within the hub. Each line card attached with the hub describes its hub internal networking characteristics and capabilities. A hub management agent obtains the specific capabilities and characteristics of each line card attached to the networking hub, from each of the line cards. The characteristics and capabilities of each line card include which of the shared data path resources are accessible to the line card, and how the line card is able to operate on those accessible shared data path resources. The capabilities and characteristics of the line cards are obtained by the management agent requesting each line card for the information. The request is initiated by a triggering event, for example power-up of the networking hub or attachment of a new line card to the networking hub. The management agent obtains the characteristics and capabilities of the line cards attached to the networking hub, and then backplane networks are created in response to requests received from a network management station.