Patent ID: 8284479

Claim:
A system for optical communication, comprising: an optical amplifier card configured to receive a plurality of pluggable pump laser modules, comprising: a plurality of receptacles, each configured to receive a pluggable pump laser module; a connector positioned in each receptacle and configured to couple the pluggable pump laser module to the optical amplifier card; a monitor configured to measure at least the optical output power of the pluggable pump laser modules; a pump combiner communicatively coupled to the monitor, configured to combine the optical output power of the pluggable pump laser modules; and a controller communicatively coupled to the monitor and the pluggable pump laser modules, configured to: receive a signal from the monitor indicating a drop in the output power of a first pluggable pump laser module below a threshold level; and in response to the signal, send an activation signal to a second pluggable pump laser module without substantially affecting normal operation of the optical amplifier card.