An apparatus having at least two user interfacing I/O data communication transceivers. The I/O transceiver utilizes either electrical or optical signaling based on user preference with each I/O transceiver being electrically connected back-to-back to a WDM transceiver in the apparatus. The optical media dependent interface of each WDM transceiver has a uniquely specified wavelength and optical ports of the WDM transceivers are connected to the corresponding wavelength ports of a WDM device. The discrete optical wavelengths are multiplexed or demultiplex onto a duplex pair of optical fibers by means of the WDM device in order to convert the interfacing I/O signals to the appropriate optical wavelengths to facilitate pre-configured WDM optical communications.