Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, computer-storage media, mechanisms, and means associated with registration of optical device characteristics of optical network devices with an optical control layer of the optical network for use in establishing compatible connections through the optical network. Especially end network devices and internal network optical devices that regenerate the optical signal register their communication capabilities of their optical interfaces with the optical control layer of an optical network. This registration allows a light path to be established through the optical network which is compatible with the registered capabilities. The optical control layer may be centralized in an optical layer server and/or distributed among optical devices in the optical network, such as on control processors in multiple, optical layer devices.