A chassis for mounting sub-rack modular units is disclosed that includes a frame defining a forward opening through which modular units are inserted to attach to the frame, a first backplane attached to the frame and that operates to provide a first functionality to one or more attached modular units that are coupled to connectors of the first backplane, and a second backplane attached to the frame and that operates to provide a second functionality to one or more attached modular units that are coupled to connectors of the second backplane, wherein the second functionality is different than the first functionality.