Abstract: A system and method for covertly managing passive network devices from a local or remote management center. A standard IP-based conversation established over a data network between two or more partner devices occurs in a first communication channel. Transparent passive network devices listen to the network traffic passing on the data network to which they are connected and extract their management information from this traffic. By generating protocol data units (PDU's) imitating those sent by the intended nodes, the reverse direction of the management traffic may be implemented.