In-band DSP management interface

In an optical communication system, a high-speed data interface to an optical module can be configured from the module's host-side interface and line-side interface. These module interfaces can be configured with an integrated digital signal processor (DSP) having a DSP microcontroller unit (MCU) as a high-speed in-band DSP management interface. The DSP MCU can communicate to either a host MCU in a host switch/router via the host-side interface or to an external device through the optics hardware via the line-side interface. The present invention provides for systems, devices, and methods using this interface for numerous module DSP-related applications, such as firmware upgrades, management data, diagnostic/telemetry streaming, encryption key programming, and the like.