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An apparatus for managing an optical signal includes a system optics card including an add filter, a drop filter, electrical backplane connector, and a mechanical front panel including express input and output ports providing channels to other system optics cards. The card transports information ove

An apparatus for managing an optical signal includes a system optics card including an add filter, a drop filter, electrical backplane connector, and a mechanical front panel including express input and output ports providing channels to other system optics cards. The card transports information over a first optical transport link and receives information over a second optical transport link. The card identifies at least one network channel on the second optical transport link destined for a client device. The drop filter delivers the identified network channel to the optical converter card for delivery to the client device. The add filter receives client channels from the optical converter card generated by the client device. The card also transports the client channels of the client device over the first optical transport link. The electrical backplane connector is connectable to a chassis for housing the system optics cards and other system optics cards and/or other optics cards.

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1. A system optics card comprising: a substrate;an electrical backplane connector supported by the substrate and connectable to a card-holding chassis;a drop filter supported by the substrate and configured to demultiplex a plurality of network channels from a network, and thereafter to identify at

1. A system optics card comprising: a substrate;an electrical backplane connector supported by the substrate and connectable to a card-holding chassis;a drop filter supported by the substrate and configured to demultiplex a plurality of network channels from a network, and thereafter to identify at least one of the network channels destined for a client device communicating with an optical converter card and to direct the identified channel to a drop output port connected to the optical converter card and to direct the network channels destined for another system optics card to an express output port;an add filter supported by the substrate and having a first light combiner configured to combine channels from add input ports, at least one of which is connected to the optical converter card, and transmit the combined channels to a second light combiner configured to combine the combined client channels with channels from an express input port and transmit all the combined channels to the network;a mechanical front panel supported by the substrate and having at least one of the express input and output ports; anda power supply supported by the substrate. 2. A system optics card according to claim 1, the drop filter comprising a first light distributor configured to separate the network channel received from the network and destined for the client device from a multiplexed signal including the network channel received from the network and to transmit the separated network channel to the optical converter card for delivery to the client device via the drop output port. 3. A system optics card according to claim 2, the first light distributor also being configured to separate the multiplexed signal into a plurality of network channels, to change the intensity of at least one of the separated network channels, and to assign the separated network channel received from the network and destined for the client device to the drop output port. 4. A system optics card according to claim 2, the drop filter further comprising a second light distributor configured to divide the optical power of a signal received from the network containing the network channel destined for the client device between a plurality of optical-power-divided signals each containing the network channel destined for the client device, and to deliver one of the optical-power-divided signals containing the network channel destined for the client device to the first light distributor, which transmits the one of the optical-power-divided signals containing the network channel destined for the client device to the optical converter card for delivery to the client device via the drop output port. 5. A system optics card according to claim 3, the system optics card further comprising a plurality of output ports, one of which is the drop output port and another of which is the express output port, the first light distributor being configured to assign each of the separated network channels of the multiplexed signal to one of the output ports, and each of the network channels being assignable by the light distributor to any of the output ports. 6. A system optics card comprising: a substrate;an electrical backplane connector supported by the substrate and connectable to a card-holding chassis;a drop filter supported by the substrate and having a light distributor configured to (a) receive a multiplexed signal, including a network channel identified as destined for a client device and received from a network via an optical transport link and (b) demultiplex the multiplexed signal into a plurality of different network channels,a plurality of variable optical attenuators, each configured to attenuate a different network channel demultiplexed by the light distributor,a plurality of light combiners at least one of which is connected to an optical converter card configured to communicate with the client device and receives the identified network channel, anda plurality of optical switches, each configured to receive at least one corresponding attenuated, different network channel and to assign that channel to at least one corresponding light combiner;an add filter supported by the substrate and having a first light combiner configured to combine channels from add input ports, at least one of which is connected to the optical converter card, and to transmit the combined channels to a second light combiner configured to combine the combined client channels with channels from an express input port and to transmit all the combined channels to the network;a mechanical front panel supported by the substrate and having the express input port; anda power supply supported by the substrate. 7. A system optics card configured to transport information over a first optical transport link to a network, the system optics card comprising: a substrate;an electrical backplane connector supported by the substrate and connectable to a card-holding chassis;at least one express input port supported by the substrate and configured to receive channels from a plurality of other system optics cards;add input ports supported by the substrate, at least one of the add input ports being connected to an optical converter card configured to communicate with a client device;an add filter supported by the substrate and configured to receive client channels from the client device via the optical converter card and including a first light combiner configured to combine client channels from the add input ports and transmit the combined client channels to a second light combiner configured to combine the combined client channels with channels received from the express input port and transmit all the combined channels to the network over the first optical transport link;a mechanical front panel supported by the substrate and having at least the express input port; anda power supply supported by the substrate. 8. A system optics card according to claim 7, the second light combiner also being configured to combine the optical power of a) the combined client channels received from the first light combiner and b) the channels received from the express input port. 9. A system optics card according to claim 7, the second light combiner also being configured to prevent the transmission of client channels of the same wavelength from different add input ports. 10. A system optics card according to claim 7, further comprising at least one express output port configured to provide channels to a plurality of other system optics cards, the system optics card being configured to receive information over a second optical transport link from the network, to identify at least one network channel on the second optical transport link destined for the client device and to deliver the identified network channel to the optical converter card for delivery to the client device. 11. A system optics card comprising: a substrate;an electrical backplane connector supported by the substrate and connectable to a card-holding chassis;a drop filter supported by the substrate and configured to demultiplex network channels from a network, identify at least one of the network channels destined for a client device communicating with an optical converter card and to direct the identified channel to a drop output port connected to the optical converter card, and direct network channels destined for another system optics card to an express output port;an add filter supported by the substrate and having a first light combiner, configured to deliver client channels of any wavelength from each add input port of the system optics card, one of which is connected to the optical converter card, to the network via a first optical transport link and to prevent the transmission of client channels of the same wavelength from different add input ports, and a second light combiner configured to receive the client channels from the add input ports, to combine the received client channels into a combined client-channel signal, and to transmit the combined client-channel signal to the first light combiner;a mechanical front panel supported by the substrate and having the express output port; anda power supply supported by the substrate. 12. A system optics card according to claim 11, the first light combiner also being configured to receive channels from another system optics card via an express input port, and when optical signals of the same wavelength are inputted from multiple input ports, the first light combiner is configured to select only one optical signal of the same wavelength from the multiple input ports for delivery to the first optical transport link and to prevent the transmission of optical signals of the same wavelength from the multiple input ports to the first optical transport link. 13. A system optics card connectable to a network and an optical converter card configured to communicate with a client device, the system optics card comprising: a substrate;an electrical backplane connector supported by the substrate and connectable to a chassis for housing the system optics card, other system optics cards, and/or other optics cards;a drop filter supported by the substrate and configured to demultiplex network channels from the network, identify at least one of the network channels and to direct the identified channel to a drop output port connected to the optical converter card, and direct other network channels to an express output port;an add filter supported by the substrate and configured to combine channels from add input ports, at least one of which is connected to the optical converter card, combine the combined client channels with channels received from an express input port, and transmit all of the combined channels to the network;a mechanical front panel supported by the substrate and having at least one of the express input and output ports; anda power supply supported by the substrate. 14. A system optics card according to claim 13, the chassis for housing the system optics card, and other system optics cards, and/or other optics cards also housing the optical converter card. 15. A system optics card according to claim 13, the system optics card being configured to slide into the chassis to provide an electrical and mechanical connection to the chassis. 16. A system optics card according to claim 13, substrate comprising a circuit board supporting the power supply. 17. A system optics card according to claim 13, further comprising a main circuit body, and a substrate supporting the main circuit body and the power supply. 18. A system optics card according to claim 17, further comprising a single power supply. 19. A system optics card comprising: a substrate;an electrical backplane connector supported by the substrate and connectable to a chassis for housing the system optics card, other system optics cards, and/or other optics cards;a mechanical front panel supported by the substrate and having at least one express output port configured to provide channels to a plurality of other system optics cards, at least one express input port configured to receive channels from a plurality of other system optics cards, a drop output port connected to an optical converter card configured to communicate with a client device, add input ports, at least one of which is connected to the optical converter card, and at least one port through which one or more channels are added from an expansion optical card, dropped to the expansion optical drop card, output to a network, input from the network, input from a dispersion module, output to the dispersion module, or output to a test port;a drop filter supported by the substrate and configured to demultiplex network channels from the network, identify at least one of the network channels and to direct the identified channel to the drop output port, and direct other network channels to the express output port;an add filter supported by the substrate and configured to combine channels from the add input ports, combine the combined client channels with channels from the express input port, and transmit all of the combined channels to the network; anda power supply supported by the substrate. 20. A system optics card according to claim 19, the at least one port of the mechanical front panel also comprising at least one of a line input port configured to receive an optical signal from an optical node different from the optical node to which the apparatus belongs, a line output port configured to output an optical signal to an optical node different from the optical node to which the apparatus belongs, a dispersion-compensation-module input port configured to receive an optical signal from a chromatic dispersion compensator, a dispersion-compensation-module output port configured to output an optical signal to the chromatic dispersion compensator, an expansion input port configured to receive an optical signal from an expansion optical card providing at least an additional add input port to the apparatus, an expansion output port configured to output an optical signal to the expansion optical card providing an additional drop output port to the apparatus, a first test output port configured to output an optical signal containing wavelengths arriving at the line input port of the system optics card to a test device, and a second test output port configured to output from an output amplifier of the system optics card or from a coupler connected to a line output port of the system optics card an optical signal that is delivered to the test device. 21. A system optics card according to claim 20, the system optics card being configured to transport information over a first optical transport link connected to the network, the system optics card being configured to receive information over a second optical transport link connected to the network, the system optics card being configured to identify at least one network channel on the second optical transport link destined for the client device, the system optics card being configured to provide the identified network channel to the optical converter card for delivery to the client device, the system optics card being configured to receive client channels from the optical converter card generated by the client device, and the system optics card being configured to transport the client channels of the client device over the first optical transport link. 22. A system optics card comprising: a drop filter configured to demultiplex a plurality of network channels from a network, to direct at least one of the network channels destined for a client device configured to communicate with an optical converter card to a drop output port connected to the optical converter card, and to direct network channels destined for another system optics card to an express output port, the drop filter including a demultiplexer configured to receive the plurality of network channels and to demultiplex the received network channels into a plurality of single network channels,at least two multiplexers, one connected to the drop output port and one connected to the express output port, andat least two optical switches, each configured to receive one of the single network channels output by the demultiplexer and to assign and direct each received single network channel to one of the multiplexers. 23. A system optics card comprising: a substrate;an electrical backplane connector supported by the substrate and connectable to a card-holding chassis;a drop filter supported by the substrate and configured to demultiplex network channels from a network, identify at least one of the network channels and to direct the identified channel to a drop output port connected to an optical converter card configured to communicate with a client device, and direct other network channels to an express output port connectable to another system optics card;an add filter supported by the substrate and configured to combine channels from add input ports, at least one of which is connected to the optical converter card, combine the combined client channels with channels from an express input port, and transmit all of the combined channels to the network;a power supply supported by the substrate;at least one expansion output port supported by the substrate and connectable to at least one expansion circuit pack comprising a plurality of drop ports; anda mechanical front panel supported by the substrate and having at least one of the express input and output ports,the drop filter also being configured to drop one or more network channels received from the network to the drop ports of the expansion circuit pack via the expansion output port. 24. A system optics card comprising: a substrate;an electrical backplane connector supported by the substrate and connectable to a card-holding chassis;a drop filter supported by the substrate and configured to demultiplex network channels from a network, identify at least one of the network channels and to direct the identified channel to a drop output port connected to an optical converter card configured to communicate with a client device, and direct other network channels to an express output port connectable to another system optics card;an add filter supported by the substrate and configured to combine channels from add input ports, at least one of which is connected to the optical converter card, combine the combined client channels with channels received from an express input port, and transmit all of the combined channels to the network;a power supply supported by the substrate;dispersion compensation input and output ports supported by the substrate and connectable to a dispersion compensator that receives one or more network channels from a line input port via the dispersion compensation output port, processes the one or more network channels from the line input port to compensate for the chromatic dispersion thereof, and transmits the chromatic-dispersion-compensated network channels through the dispersion compensation input port to the drop filter; anda mechanical front panel supported by the substrate and having at least one of the express output and input ports,the chromatic-dispersion-compensated network channel destined for the client device being transmitted from the drop filter to the drop output port connected to the optical converter card. 25. A system optics card comprising: a substrate;an electrical backplane connector supported by the substrate and connectable to a card-holding chassis;a drop filter supported by the substrate and configured to demultiplex network channels from a network, identify at least one of the network channels and to direct the identified channel to a drop output port connected to an optical converter card configured to communicate with a client device, and direct other network channels to an express output port connectable to another system optics card;at least one expansion input port supported by the substrate and connectable to at least one expansion circuit pack comprising a plurality of add ports;an add filter supported by the substrate and connected to the expansion input port, the add filter being configured to combine one or more channels received from add ports of the system optics card, at least one of which is connected to the optical converter card, and one or more channels received from the add ports of the expansion circuit pack via the expansion input port, and to transmit the combined channels to the network via a line output port;a mechanical front panel supported by the substrate and having the express output port; anda power supply supported by the substrate. 26. A system optics card comprising: a drop filter including at least one express output port configured to provide channels to a plurality of other system optics cards,at least one express input port configured to receive channels from a plurality of other system optics cards,a light distributor configured to (i) receive a multiplexed signal, including a network channel identified as destined for a client device configured to provide information to and receive information from an optical converter card, and received from a network via a first optical transport link and (ii) demultiplex the multiplexed signal into a plurality of different network channels,a plurality of variable optical attenuators, each configured to attenuate a different network channel demultiplexed by the light distributor,a plurality of light combiners at least one of which is connected to the optical converter card, anda plurality of optical switches, each configured to receive at least one corresponding attenuated, different network channel and to assign that channel to at least one corresponding light combiner,the system optics card being configured to transport information over a second optical transport link, and to identify at least one network channel on the first optical transport link destined for the client device, the drop filter being configured to deliver the identified network channel to the optical converter card for delivery to the client device, andthe system optics card being configured to receive client channels from the optical converter card generated by the client device, and to transport the client channels of the client device over the second optical transport link. 27. A system optics card comprising: at least one express output port configured to provide channels to a plurality of other system optics cards;a plurality of input ports including at least one express input port configured to receive channels from a plurality of other system optics cards, and at least two add input ports, at least one of which is connected to an optical converter card configured to provide information to and receive information from a client device; andan add filter having a first light combiner, configured to deliver client channels of any wavelength from each add input port to a network via a first optical transport link and to prevent the transmission of client channels of the same wavelength from different add input ports to the network, and a second light combiner configured to receive the client channels from the add input ports, to combine the received client channels into a combined client-channel signal, and to transmit the combined client-channel signal to the first light combiner,the system optics card being configured to transport information over the first optical transport link to the network, to receive information over a second optical transport link, to identify at least one network channel on the second optical transport link destined for the client device, and to provide the identified network channel to the optical converter card for delivery to the client device,the add filter being configured to receive client channels from the optical converter card generated by the client device, andthe system optics card also being configured to transport the client channels of the client device received by the add filter over the first optical transport link. 28. A system optics card configured to receive information over a first optical transport link from a network and to identify at least one network channel on the first optical transport link destined for a client device, the system optics card comprising: a substrate;an electrical backplane connector supported by the substrate and connectable to a card-holding chassis;at least one express output port supported by the substrate and configured to provide channels to a plurality of other system optics cards;a drop filter supported by the substrate and configured to deliver the identified network channel to an optical converter card, configured to provide information to the client device, for delivery to the client device by demultiplexing all network channels received by the drop filter from the first optical transport link from the network, and thereafter directing at least one of the network channels destined for the client device to a drop output port connected to the optical converter card and directing the network channels destined for one of the other system optics card to the express output port;a mechanical front panel supported by the substrate and having the express output port; anda power supply supported by the substrate. 29. A system optics card according to claim 28, further comprising at least one express input port configured to receive channels from a plurality of other system optics cards, and the optical converter card, the system optics card also being configured to transport information over a second optical transport link, to receive client channels from the optical converter card generated by the client device, and to transport the client channels of the client device over the second optical transport link. 30. A system optics card, connectable to a network and an optical converter card configured to provide information to and receive information from a client device, and configured to receive information over a first optical transport link from the network and to identify at least one network channel on the first optical transport link destined for the client device, the system optics card comprising: a substrate;a mechanical front panel supported by the substrate and having express input and output ports configured to, respectively, receive channels from and provide channels to from a plurality of other system optics cards;a drop filter supported by the substrate and configured to demultiplex network channels from the network and deliver the identified network channel to the optical converter card for delivery to the client device;an electrical backplane connector supported by the substrate and connectable to a chassis for housing the system optics card, other system optics cards, and/or other optics cards; anda power supply supported by the substrate. 31. A system optics card according to claim 30, further comprising: at least one express output port configured to provide channels to the plurality of other system optics cards; andan express input port configured to receive channels from a plurality of other system optics cards,the system optics card also being configured to transport information over a second optical transport link, to receive client channels from the optical converter card generated by the client device, and to transport the client channels over the second optical transport link. 32. A system optics card, connectable to a network and an optical converter card, configured to receive client channels from the optical converter card generated by a client device and to transport the client channels of the client device over a first optical transport link to the network, the system optics card comprising: a substrate;a mechanical front panel supported by the substrate and having express input and output ports configured to, respectively, receive channels from and provide channels to a plurality of other system optics cards;an add filter supported by the substrate and configured to combine channels from add input ports, at least one of which is connected to the optical converter card, combine the combined client channels with channels from the express input port, and transmit all of the combined channels to the network over the first optical transport link;an electrical backplane connector supported by the substrate and connectable to a chassis for housing the system optics card, other system optics cards, and/or other optics cards; anda power supply supported by the substrate. 33. A system optics card according to claim 32, wherein the add filter includes a first light combiner configured to combine client channels from the add input ports and transmit the combined client channels to a second light combiner configured to combine the combined client channels with channels received from the express input port and transmit all the combined channels to the network over the first optical transport link. 34. A system optics card according to claim 33, the second light combiner also being configured to combine the optical power of a) the combined client channels received from the first light combiner and b) the channels received from the express input port. 35. A system optics card according to claim 34, the second light combiner also being configured to prevent the transmission of client channels of the same wavelength from different add input ports.