Patent ID: 8239919

Claim:
A method for controlling write access to data stored in a first memory in an optic module, the method comprising: interfacing with the optic module via a host controller; providing a password entry to a memory controller, the memory controller controlling write access to memory which is separate from and shared by two or more elements in the optic module configured to transmit or received data over an optic fiber; reading one or more write access level passwords from the first memory or a second memory, comparing the password entry to the one or more write access level passwords; responsive to the comparing not locating a match between the password entry and an write access level password, denying write access to the data stored in the first memory; and responsive to the comparing locating a match between the password entry and an access level password, granting write access to only the data stored at memory addresses defined in an address write access range associated with the matched write access level password while excluding write access to data stored at other memory addresses, wherein the data controls one or more aspects of the optic module's transmit or receive operations and the address write access range does not include all memory addresses.