An optical communication system to automatically configure remote optical nodes. The optical communication system comprising a core router configured to transmit a control optical signal at a control transmit wavelength. The optical communication system further comprising one or more remote optical nodes configured to receive the control optical signal at the control transmit wavelength and to transmit an attach request at the control transmit wavelength to the core router. The core router is further configured to receive the attach request and to assign an Internet Protocol (IP) address, a data transmit wavelength, and a mode to the remote optical nodes. The remote optical node are further configured to tune to the assigned data transmit wavelength and operate in the assigned mode.