Abstract: An optical communications network including a plurality of optical network elements and a plurality of network management systems. Each of network management systems executes a framework application. A communications link couples at least one of the network management systems and at least one of the optical network elements. A memory device is accessible by the network management system. The network management system communicates with the optical network element to detect a hardware feature present at the optical network element. The network management system determines a feature application supporting the hardware feature that is not supported by the framework application. The network management system loads the feature application from the memory device to the framework application and executes the feature application to manage the optical network element.