Methods and systems are disclosed for optical network link traversal, including a method comprising the steps of receiving, by a traverser software module for an optical network, from a first node in a network link defining a path in the optical network, one or more node sets indicative of one or more of a second node also in the network link; determining, with the traverser software module, an order of traversal of the one or more node sets; traversing the network link using the determined order of traversal; communicating, by the traverser software module, information with a feature manager software module for a first software feature, the first software feature configured to perform a function specific to a specific node; and triggering, by the feature manager software module, the first software feature to execute one or more computer executable instruction based on information from the traverser software module.