1. An apparatus, comprising: a control module implemented in at least one of a memory or a processing device, the control module configured to receive, via a network and from a wireless access point that operatively couples a first client device to the network via a wireless link, a control packet defined based on a control protocol and associated with at least one control function of the wireless access point, the control module configured to receive, via the network and from an access network node that operatively couples a second client device to the network via a wired link, a control packet defined based on the control protocol and associated with at least one control function of the access network node, the control module configured to extract, from the control packet from the access network node, a configuration status of the access network node, the control module configured to send, via the network, a response to the access network node based on the configuration status of the access network node, and the control module configured to exchange a data packet between the wireless access point and the access network node via a common data tunnel, the common data tunnel configured to operate according to the control protocol determined at least in part based on the control packet from the access network node, the common data tunnel including the wireless access point, the control module and the access network node.