WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1.

A method for observing data in a computing system, said method comprising: configuring a first path of communication between a first node of said system and a second node of said system, wherein said first path corresponds to normal operational data; configuring a second path between said first node and a third node of said system, wherein said second path corresponds to a noncritical path ; configuring said first device to convey a first data stream via said first path and a second data stream via said second path; conveying a first data stream from said first device via said first path and a second data stream from said first device via said second data path; receiving said second data stream at said third node.

2.	The method of claim 1, wherein said first node is configured to generate said second data stream.

3.	The method of claim 2, wherein said second data stream corresponds to an internal state of said first node.

4.	The method of claim 2, wherein said first data stream comprises normal operational data, and wherein said second data stream comprises debug information corresponding to said first data stream.

5.	The method of claim 2, wherein said second data stream is a duplicate of said first data stream.

6.	The method of claim 4, further comprising extracting said first data stream and said second data stream from a third data stream received by said first node, wherein said extracting is performed by said first node.

7.	The method of claim 6, further comprising: generating said third data stream by combining said debug data with normal operational data, wherein said third data stream is generated by a fourth node of said system; and conveying said third data stream from said fourth node to said first node.

8.	The method of claim 2, wherein said noncritical path includes noncritical ports.

9.	The method of claim 8, wherein said noncritical ports are selected from the group consisting of: a disabled port, a replicated port, a dedicated monitor port, or an error correcting code (ECC) port.

10.	The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a reference data corresponding to said first and second data streams ; conveying said third data via a noncritical path; and receiving said third data at an observation point.

11.

A device comprising: a plurality of output ports; and control circuitry, wherein said control circuitry is configured to identify and convey a first data stream via a port of said output ports, and identify and convey a second data stream via a second port of said output ports, wherein said first port corresponds to normal operational data, and wherein said second port corresponds to a noncritical path.

12.	The device of claim 11, wherein said control circuitry is configured to generate said second data stream.

13.	The device of claim 12, wherein said second data stream corresponds to an internal state of said device.

14.	The device of claim 11, wherein said first data stream comprises normal operational data, and wherein said second data stream comprises debug information corresponding to said first data stream.

15.	The device of claim 11, wherein said second data stream is a duplicate of said first data stream.

16.	The device of claim 14, wherein said control circuitry is configured to extract said first data stream and said second data stream from a third data stream received by said device.

17.	The device of claim 16, wherein said device is configured to receive said third data stream from a fourth node which is configured to generate said third data stream by combining said debug data with normal operational data.

18.	The device of claim 11, wherein said noncritical path includes noncritical ports.

19.	The device of claim 18, wherein said noncritical ports are selected from the group consisting of: a disabled port, a replicated port, a dedicated monitor port, or error correcting code (ECC) port.

20.	The device of claim 11, wherein said control circuitry is further configured to: generate a reference data corresponding to said first and second data streams ; and convey said reference data via said noncritical port.

21.	The device of claim 11, wherein configuring said control circuitry includes setting control registers of said device to a predetermined value.

22.

A computing system comprising : a first node configured to convey a first data stream via a first path and a second data stream via a second path; a second node coupled to said first node via said first path, wherein said first path corresponds to normal operational data; and a third node coupled to said first node via said second path, wherein said second path comprises a non critical path.

23.	The computing system of claim 22, wherein said first node is configured to generate said second data stream.

24.	The computing system of claim 23, wherein said second data stream corresponds to an internal state of said first node.

25.	The computing system of claim 23, wherein said first data stream comprises normal operational data, and wherein said second data stream comprises debug information corresponding to said first data stream.

26.	The computing system of claim 23, wherein said second data stream is a duplicate of said first data stream.

27.	The computing system of claim 25, wherein said first node is configured to extract said first data stream and said second data stream from a third data stream received by said first node.

28.	The computing system of claim 27, further comprising a fourth node configured to generate said third data stream by combining said debug data with normal operational data, and wherein said fourth node is configured to convey said third data stream from to said first node.

29.	The computing system of claim 22, wherein said noncritical path includes noncritical links.

30.	The computing system of claim 29, wherein said noncritical links are selected from the group consisting of: a disabled link, a replicated link, a dedicated monitor link, or an error correcting code (ECC) link.

31.	The computing system of claim 22, wherein said system is further configured to generate a reference data corresponding to said first and second data streams, wherein said reference data is conveyed via a noncritical path to an observation point.