 This new packet-based link protocol was called "DS-Link", and later formed the basis of the IEEE 1355 serial interconnect standard.The T9000 also added link routing hardware called the "VCP" (Virtual Channel Processor) which changed the links from point-to-point to a true network, allowing for the creation of any number of "virtual channels" on the links.This meant programs no longer had to be aware of the physical layout of the connections.