1. In an optical networking apparatus having one or more multi-protocol optical networking modules (MPONM), each having a multi-protocol processor and a plurality of physical layer components, a method of operation comprising: a networking application invoking a first function of an MPONM application programming interface (API) to cause a first operation to be performed within the multi-protocol processor of a first selected one of the one or more MPONM; and the networking application invoking a second function of the same MPONM API to cause a second operation to be performed within at least a first selected one of the physical layer components of a second selected one of the one or more MPONM.