Abstract: A system and method of verifying connectivity between hosts and optical ports in a data center is disclosed herein. The system and method includes directing, at a network control module (NCM), an electrical packet switch operatively connected to an optical port of the optical circuit switch, to transmit a data packet containing a MAC address of a host connected to an optical port determined by the NCM, and receiving, at the NCM, a response from the host, wherein the response comprises an indication that the MAC address contained in the transmitted data packet corresponds to the MAC address of a network interface card (NIC) at the host, and a determination of whether the host connected to the optical port determined by the NCM has been powered up.