A data communication network includes a plurality of network nodes and a processor. The network nodes each include an optical link and a reflectometry analyzer. The reflection analyzers provide reflectometry results that each provide a characterization of physical and operational properties of the associated optical link. The processor receives the reflectometry results from the reflectometry analyzers, and, for each optical link, analyzes the reflectometry results to determine a fingerprint of the physical and operational properties of the associated optical link. The processor further determines a status for each of the optical links based upon the associated fingerprints, and determines a first path between a first one of the network nodes and a second one of the network nodes based upon a first status of a first optical link in the first path and a second status of a second optical link in the path.