A host device configured to receive a pluggable optical module, the host device includes circuitry configured to, subsequent to insertion of the pluggable optical module, access an early management interface on the pluggable optical module, prior to the pluggable optical module being fully booted, and, subsequent to the pluggable optical module being fully booted, access a complete management interface on the pluggable optical module. The early management interface provides responses to simple queries, allowing access to one or more registers on the pluggable optical module.