An end-to-end method is provided for scheduling connections for networks such as all-optical data centers, which have a zero in-network buffer and a non-negligible reconfiguration delay in which the rate of schedule reconfiguration is limited to minimize the impact of reduced duty-cycles and to ensure bounded delay without overly restricting the rate of monitoring and decision processes. The method decouples the rate of scheduling from the rate of monitoring. A scheduling algorithm for switches with a reconfiguration delay is used which is based on the well-known MaxWeight scheduling policy. The scheduling policy requires no prior knowledge of traffic load.